Lothar Matthaus backs Harry Kane over Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe for Ballon d’Or

Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah September 16, 2026

Lothar Matthaus says Harry Kane is currently his leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, placing the Bayern Munich striker ahead of Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

The former Germany international believes Yamal and Mbappe are among the best players in the world, but does not regard either as the strongest contender for the prestigious individual award.

Speaking to Sky Sport, Matthaus praised Yamal’s outstanding ability and described the young Barcelona winger as an “exceptional” player. However, he said last season did not truly belong to the Spain international.

Matthaus felt Yamal was “one of many” contributors during Spain’s successful World Cup campaign and did not consistently reach the level he has shown at the start of this season.

Despite those reservations, Matthaus believes Yamal has a strong chance of winning the award. He said success in major competitions carries significant weight in the voting and argued that the Barcelona player has an advantage over Mbappe in that regard.

Mbappe, according to Matthaus, did not win a trophy with either Real Madrid or France during the period considered for the Ballon d’Or.

When asked to name his preferred candidate, however, Matthaus selected Kane, highlighting the England forward’s individual and team achievements.

“Kane has produced remarkable statistics, winning the Golden Boot, scoring at the World Cup and finding decisive goals in the Champions League,” Matthaus said.

He also pointed to Kane’s success with Bayern Munich, saying the striker won trophies with the club and reached the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the World Cup.

Those accomplishments have led Matthaus to place Kane at the front of the Ballon d’Or race at present. He still considers Yamal a stronger candidate than Mbappe, largely because of the trophies associated with the Barcelona winger, but believes Kane’s overall season gives him the clearest claim to the prize.