Former Chelsea midfielder, Craig Burley, has overlooked Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, instead selecting Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as his preferred candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Mbappe was impressive for club and country last season, netting 42 goals across all competitions for Los Blancos and scoring 10 times for France during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He emerged as the top scorer in LaLiga with 25 goals and in the UEFA Champions League with 15 goals.
On the other hand, Kane also enjoyed a remarkable season for club and country, scoring a total of 73 goals, which included seven goals at the World Cup, where England secured a third-place finish.
Speaking on Kane’s selection for the Ballon d’Or, Burley stated on ESPN UK: “It cannot solely be about trophies. [Harry Kane has demonstrated] remarkable consistency throughout, and I don’t care what he has won or didn’t win. Kane’s overall game, in addition to his goal-scoring, is truly impressive.
“His ability to drop back, his passing skills, and his finishing are all exceptional. I believe that if he were to win the Ballon d’Or, it would be a well-deserved acknowledgment of how he has conducted himself for both club and country throughout his career, culminating in a spectacular season at Bayern.”
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions for Bayern during the 2025-26 season, securing the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and the German Super Cup. At the World Cup, he finished three goals shy of the Golden Boot winner Mbappe, who scored 10 goals.
Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘I don’t care what he’s won’ – Craig Burley names favourite to award