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The Ballon d’Or 2026 is fast approaching, and the debate is raging. Will it be Spain’s World Cup hero Rodri? Or England’s goal machine Harry Kane? Rio Ferdinand has no doubts – and he has the numbers that speak for themselves.
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The most difficult election of the year
At the end of October, the football world gathers in London to crown the best player of the year. And never has it been more difficult to point out a clear winner.
Last year, it was Ousmane Dembélé who walked away with the award after leading PSG to the club’s first Champions League title. This year, the field is even closer: Spain’s World Cup-winning duo Rodri and Lamine Yamal, PSG stars Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – and not least England’s record man Harry Kane.
While many point to Rodri, who was named the best player of the World Cup tournament, there is one man who pulls in a completely different direction.
Ferdinand: – 73 goals in one season. Who else?
Rio Ferdinand is known for having strong opinions – and when it comes to the Ballon d’Or, he is crystal clear:
– 73 goals in one season. Only Lionel Messi has scored more in a single season than Harry Kane. You won the European Golden Boot, you were the top scorer for England in the World Cup. Who else should win the Ballon d’Or but Harry Kane? Ferdinand told the Bundesliga.
Kane’s numbers are almost unbelievable. In the 2025/26 season, he netted 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England. In the Bundesliga, there were 36 goals in 31 games – enough to secure both the league title and the Golden Boot for the second season in a row.
| Tournament | Matches | Objectives | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 31 | 36 | 5 |
| Champions League | 13 | 14 | 2 |
| DFB-Pokal | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| Franz Beckenbauer Supercup | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| World Cup 2026 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| World Cup Qualification | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Friendly matches | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 65 | 73 | 8 |
Kane himself: “It’s all about team trophies”
Despite the support of legends like Ferdinand and Gary Lineker, Kane himself has been more humble. In an interview with The Mirror in October 2025, he said:
“Of course I would like to win the Ballon d’Or. But at its core, it’s a team trophy that the best individual player from that team wins. Unless you win the biggest competitions – the Champions League or the World Cup – it’s going to be tough,” Kane said.
Bayern lost in the Champions League semi-finals to PSG, 6-5 on aggregate. But Kane can still point to a national treble – Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Supercup – which can weigh heavily in the assessment.
What do fans say?
According to fan polls, Kane is currently in 7th place – one place ahead of Lionel Messi. His highest ever position in the Ballon d’Or voting is 10th place (in 2017, 2018 and 2024). Last year, he finished in 13th place, despite 41 goals and a Bundesliga title.
But this year everything is different. The question is whether the jury will be impressed by Kane’s record numbers – or whether Spain’s World Cup title will be decisive.
The verdict: Can Kane become the first Englishman since Owen?
The last time an Englishman won the Ballon d’Or was in 2001 – when Michael Owen walked away with the award. Since then, no one from England has been close.
Kane has never been closer. With 73 goals, two golden boots and a national treble in the bag, he has a strong card in his hand. The question is whether it is enough to convince a jury that often rewards the big tournament winners.
One thing is certain: The debate will rage right up until October 26.
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