Guti casts doubt on Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph with pointed London remark

Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti has questioned Harry Kane’s 2026 Ballon d’Or victory in sarcastic terms, suggesting the outcome had been decided before the award was presented.

Speaking on El Chiringuito de Jugones, Guti focused on the fact that the prize went to an English striker from London, implying that Kane’s success had been planned from the outset.

“The Ballon d’Or moved to London, and it was won by someone from London. What a coincidence, isn’t it? It’s a real coincidence! This had certainly been written from the beginning,” Guti said.

His comments reflected his lack of conviction about the result and have added to the debate in Spain over who should have won football’s most prominent individual prize.

Guti also referred to Kane’s reaction when the winner was announced. In his view, the England striker’s facial expression suggested that he had not expected to collect the award.

The former Real Madrid player said Kane appeared to believe that Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe would finish ahead of him in the voting.

The remarks come amid differing reactions to Kane’s victory. Some observers in Spain had favoured a player who had won the World Cup during the summer, while some Real Madrid supporters had hoped Mbappe would claim the award instead of the England forward.