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

Mbappe enjoyed an impressive season, scoring 42 goals for Real Madrid and adding 10 goals for France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He also finished as LaLiga’s top scorer with 25 goals and the Champions League’s leading scorer with 15.

Kane, however, had an even more productive campaign, scoring 73 goals for club and country, including seven goals at the World Cup as England finished third.

“It cannot solely be about trophies. [Harry Kane has demonstrated] remarkable consistency throughout, and I don’t care what he has won or didn’t win,” Burley said on ESPN UK.

“Kane’s overall game, in addition to his goal-scoring, is truly impressive. His ability to drop back, his passing skills, and his finishing are all exceptional.”

Burley also believes Kane’s performances for both Bayern Munich and England make him a worthy candidate, especially after his outstanding campaign in Germany.

“I believe that if he were to win the Ballon d’Or, it would be a well-deserved acknowledgment of how he has conducted himself for both club and country throughout his career, culminating in a spectacular season at Bayern.”

ALSO READ

• Ballon d’Or 2026: I’ve no doubt – Feyenoord manager picks winner of award
• 2026 Ballon d’Or: Ronaldo, Raphinha – 8 top players missing from nominees’ shortlist

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern during the 2025-26 season, helping them win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup. At the World Cup, he finished three goals behind Mbappe, who scored 10 times.