Ballon d’Or 2026: He’s leading contender – Lothar Matthäus names player who deserves award most

Bayern Munich legend, Lothar Matthäus, has said the club’s striker, Harry Kane, is the player who deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or the most.

According to Matthäus, the England captain is the leading contender because he didn’t go through a single poor spell.

He argued that Kane, who won a bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, let his actions on the pitch do the talking.

“For me, Harry Kane is the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or. I look at the entire year, not just one game or one World Cup,” Matthäus told Sky Germany as captured by @iMiaSanMia on X.

“Several players won the Spanish league with Barcelona and then became world champions with Spain, but was there one player who stood head and shoulders above everyone else? In Lamine Yamal’s case, I would say no.

“Lionel Messi won the MLS with Inter Miami, a league that is not as strong as those in Europe. He scored eight

scored eight goals at the World Cup, but also missed two penalties.

“Kylian Mbappe reached the World Cup semi-finals with France, but he failed to win a trophy with Real Madrid. The same applies to England’s Jude Bellingham

“Kane won two domestic titles with Bayern Munich. The fact that he failed to reach the final at both the World Cup and in the Champions League is the only blemish. Otherwise, he has produced outstanding performances and, in my opinion, didn’t go through a single poor spell.

“He and Rodri are also players who let their actions on the pitch do the talking and have not attracted attention through stories off the pitch.

For me, Kane is the player who deserves the Ballon d’Or the most,” he stated.

This is coming a few weeks after Matthäus backed Paris Saint-Germain forward, Ousmane Dembele, to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.