English media: Harry Kane is a strong Ballon d'Or contender, but his humble nature could cost him the award

Beijing time (CEST) September 9, The Daily Telegraph published a column discussing prospects for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The article points out that Kane is among the leading contenders, but his character could cause him to miss out on the award.

Next month, the Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London, and Kane will be among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, an award designed to honor the world's most outstanding footballer.

Kane is one of three English players nominated for the Ballon d'Or, with the other two being Bellingham and Declan Rice. The 39-year-old Messi is expected to win his ninth individual Ballon d'Or in his illustrious career.

If Kane ultimately wins the Ballon d'Or, he would be the first English player to receive this honor since Michael Owen in 2001, and the fifth Englishman in history to claim this prestigious award.

Is Kane the top contender for the Ballon d'Or?

This year appears to be the most fitting moment in Kane's career to recognize his individual contributions, throughout a career known for its selflessness.

Last season, Kane scored an impressive 61 goals for Bayern Munich across all competitions and led the English national team to the World Cup semi-finals. Few other contenders can match Kane's dual impact at both club and international levels.

In the past, Kane's statistics would have been completely overshadowed by the remarkable goal tallies of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, but that era of explosive goal-scoring is in the past and difficult to replicate.

Kane's performance last season was extraordinary; he is not only a precise and focused striker, but also an orchestrator, a leader, and a role model.

Kane has redefined the modern forward: in the first leg of the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain last season, he dropped deep into midfield, orchestrating a precise comeback for his team; and in the match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, he helped the English national team to victory with sharp instincts in the box and fighting spirit—both coming naturally to him.

Kane focused throughout last season, and although Bayern and England ultimately fell short of their ambitions, this should not count against him. However, Kane's natural selflessness may prevent him from thinking this way, as his nature is to shift attention from himself to the team.

Ironically, and perhaps sadly, the very qualities that make Kane such a strong contender could be the reason he misses out on the award. Kane possesses typical English characteristics, with an apparent inferiority complex, and seems to be a perpetual "runner-up."

Kane never likes to boast. During the lead-up to the Ballon d'Or selection, he will certainly not lobby for himself like others do, but will instead quietly step back and let others promote his chances of winning.

There have been previous winners, such as World Cup champion and 2026 contender Rodri, who did not engage in deliberate public relations or involve himself in excessive off-field factors when he won.

However, this year's list of 30 finalists is highly competitive. Contenders must rely not only on hard metrics but also on emotion. The question is whether Kane's strength can stand out amid all the noise.

Kane's biggest rivals

Among other contenders, Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Messi are those most likely to compete with Kane.

Mbappé has never finished in the top three in previous Ballon d'Or voting, but after a turbulent first year at Real Madrid, he still scored 42 goals across all competitions, including 15 in 11 Champions League matches.

The 27-year-old acknowledges that this year is a good time to compete for the Ballon d'Or, and he clearly feels the weight of history—Real Madrid is tied for the most Ballon d'Or wins with 12.

Mbappé said: "I feel that when you play for the best club in the world like Real Madrid, people naturally associate you with this award."

Yamal is widely regarded as the world's best young player currently, and in the future, he will likely be a regular Ballon d'Or contender.

However, due to injury last season, he was unable to contribute as much as desired to help Barcelona win La Liga or Spain reclaim the World Cup since 2010.

But whenever he plays, Yamal easily demonstrates world-class performances with the unique vitality of young players, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists in 28 appearances across competitions.

However, the Ballon d'Or evaluates both skill and consistency, especially when competing against exceptionally outstanding players like Kane and Mbappé.

Messi and Rodri have both won the Ballon d'Or, and last season, both played crucial roles in Argentina and Spain's respective journeys to the World Cup final.

Rodri was also named the best player of the World Cup final—a final in which his teammate Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time. Rodri had previously declined in form due to injury, then transferred to Barcelona and successfully rebuilt his reputation, making this award the perfect culmination of his career.

Defending champion Ousmane Dembélé is also among the contenders; he helped Paris Saint-Germain defend their Champions League title and also delivered an exceptional performance at the World Cup.

Which Premier League players are nominated for the Ballon d'Or?

Premier League champions Arsenal unsurprisingly have the most nominees from the Premier League, with Rice, Gabriel, and Saliba all on the list.

Beyond Arsenal's trio, there are very few other Premier League contenders, with only Manchester City's striker Haaland and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes making the list.

David Raya has been nominated for Men's Goalkeeper of the Year, while Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery have been nominated for Men's Coach of the Year.

Why is the Ballon d'Or being held in London?

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, and the ceremony will return to where Sir Stanley Matthews, the first recipient in 1956, received his award.

Since 2019, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris has hosted the Ballon d'Or ceremony, but this year, on Monday, October 26, the London Palladium will temporarily take over as host.

While Stanley Matthews quietly received the first Ballon d'Or at Blackpool Town Hall back then, today's ceremony is vastly different from before. To commemorate this milestone, the Ballon d'Or is returning to its "spiritual home."