Ballon d’Or 2026: Ex-Liverpool Midfielder Names Big Favourite To Win Award

Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimír Šmicer has named Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as his big favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Šmicer believes Kane deserves the award ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal because of what the England captain has achieved throughout his career.

“I think Harry Kane should be the big favourite [to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or],” Šmicer told Grosvenor Sport.

The former Czech Republic international also mentioned Yamal as one of the leading contenders but questioned the teenager’s performance at the World Cup.

“Lamine Yamal will be there as well, but he did not have a great World Cup.”

Šmicer also considered Mbappe a serious contender, pointing to his strong World Cup campaign while also assessing his form for Real Madrid during the first half of the year.

“Kylian Mbappe is another favourite because he had a very good World Cup, but he was average for Real Madrid in the first half of the year. So I think, for all that he has done in his career, it should be Harry Kane.”

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Kane, Mbappe and Yamal are among the 30 players shortlisted for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be decided from the final nominees.