Former Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has played down Harry Kane’s chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Hamann believes Kane’s impressive goalscoring record may not be enough to secure the prestigious individual award, pointing to Bayern Munich’s Champions League exit in the semi-finals and Kane’s limited scoring impact after the World Cup Round of 32.
“I know Kane scored an awful lot of goals, but in the Champions League, the semi-final was the last stop for them,” Hamann said.
“He did not score after the round of 32. I’m not sure that’s enough to win a Ballon d’Or. I think there are two or three contenders who are ahead of him.”
Kane enjoyed another prolific season with Bayern and was also among the standout performers for England at the 2026 World Cup. He scored twice in England’s 2-1 win over DR Congo in the last 32 and finished the tournament with six goals.
However, Hamann’s comments come as the Ballon d’Or race remains wide open, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Jude Bellingham, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the players being considered strong contenders.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, with the 30 nominees expected to be announced in September.
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