Harry Kane’s chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or have suffered a significant setback following England’s World Cup campaign, with former France, Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit insisting the Bayern Munich striker is no longer among the leading contenders despite one of the finest individual seasons of his career.Kane entered the Ballon d’Or race as one of the favourites after a prolific campaign for both club and country, but Petit believes his inability to deliver silverware in football’s biggest competitions has weakened his case.
Stellar numbers but major trophies prove decisive
The England captain enjoyed a sensational season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions.He finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 league goals, added 14 goals in the UEFA Champions League, 10 in the DFB-Pokal and one in the German Super Cup, helping Bayern secure a domestic league and cup double.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
Bayern’s Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the DFB Pokal, German Cup final soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
However, Bayern fell short in Europe after being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, denying Kane the first Champions League title of his career.His international campaign followed a similar pattern. Kane scored six goals in seven appearances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but England’s hopes of lifting the trophy ended with a 2-1 semi-final defeat to eventual runners-up Argentina before Thomas Tuchel’s side defeated France to finish third.
England’s Harry Kane reacts after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) CORRECTION: Corrects byline.
Across club and country, Kane finished the season with an extraordinary return of 73 goals and eight assists in 66 matches, strengthening his position as one of world football’s most prolific forwards.
Petit believes Kane faded when it mattered most
Despite those remarkable statistics, Petit believes performances in the biggest matches ultimately carry the greatest weight in Ballon d’Or voting.Speaking to Mr Gamble, the 1998 World Cup winner said Kane’s candidacy had been damaged by Bayern’s Champions League exit and England’s failure to reach the World Cup final.“Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or chances are over,” Petit said.“If you base that only on the German league, okay, no problem at all.“But in the Champions League and with the national team, when it started to be really hard to win, I think he disappeared.“I can’t point the finger at him because he tried everything he could, and he scored many goals, but he didn’t have an impact in the big games, just like in the Champions League. So I think there are a few names ahead of him.”
Spain’s World Cup triumph reshapes the race
Petit believes Spain’s World Cup victory has significantly altered the Ballon d’Or landscape.The former midfielder highlighted several Spanish stars as leading candidates following their triumph over Argentina in the World Cup final, while also praising Rodri’s performances throughout the tournament.“Lamine Yamal? He had a great World Cup,” Petit said.“You know the rules for the Ballon d’Or have changed so much, just like the rules on the pitch. Rodri has been the best player again during this competition. Messi had a great competition, but he plays for Miami.“I know the World Cup is above any title you want with your club. But in the meantime, you have to win the title. Is it going to be a Spanish player? I have no idea. But it’s going to be tough. And in the end, I hope it won’t be a commercial decision.”
Spain’s Lamine Yamal gestures during a World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Austria in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Following Spain’s World Cup success, Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal and Spain captain Rodri have emerged as leading contenders alongside Kane. Lionel Messi remains firmly in the conversation after guiding Argentina to another World Cup final at the age of 39, while France forward Kylian Mbappé enhanced his credentials by finishing as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner with 10 goals despite France placing fourth.
How the Ballon d’Or is decided
The Ballon d’Or recognises the world’s best male and female footballers based on three principal criteria: individual performances, team achievements and fair play.The men’s award is voted on by an international panel of journalists representing the top 100 nations in FIFA’s world rankings, while the women’s award is decided by journalists from the top 50-ranked countries.Each voter selects 10 players from the official 30-player shortlist, awarding points on a scale of 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. The player with the highest overall points total wins the award, with the number of first-place votes serving as the first tiebreaker if required.The debate over this year’s favourite comes just months after Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner, edging out Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal after a historic season with Paris Saint-Germain.Dembélé led PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title as part of a continental treble, scoring 37 goals and providing 15 assists across all competitions. He also collected the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award and finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer, cementing his status as the standout performer of the previous campaign.The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, 2026.
