Burley Names Harry Kane as Favourite for 2026 Ballon D’Or

Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has named Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as his favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, overlooking Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

Burley made the assessment while discussing the award on ESPN, arguing that the Ballon d’Or should not be determined solely by the number of trophies won.

He highlighted Kane’s consistency, all-round play and goalscoring record for both Bayern Munich and England during the 2025/26 season.

“It cannot just be about trophies,” Burley said, praising Kane’s ability to contribute beyond scoring goals.

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern across competitions during the 2025/26 campaign, helping the German club win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.

The England captain also scored seven goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as England finished third.

Mbappe, meanwhile, enjoyed an outstanding season for Real Madrid and France, scoring 42 goals for the Spanish club and 10 for his country at the World Cup.

The French forward finished as the top scorer in La Liga with 25 goals, the Champions League with 15 and the World Cup with 10.

Despite Mbappe’s scoring record and trophy success, Burley said Kane’s overall contribution and consistency made him his preferred candidate for the prestigious individual award.

Kane has also made a strong start to the 2026/27 season, while Mbappe has continued to score regularly for Real Madrid.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or award will recognise the best individual performer from the preceding season, with Kane and Mbappe among the leading contenders.