Harry Kane answers Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or argument after Bayern Munich win

Harry Kane says he will let his performances on the pitch speak for him as the Bayern Munich striker responds to Lamine Yamal’s views on the Ballon d’Or race.

Kane was speaking after Bayern Munich’s 7-0 victory over Union Berlin in the German league on Friday, a result in which the England captain’s side underlined their attacking strength.

The striker was asked about the competition involving Yamal, the Barcelona forward, and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, with Michael Olise and Rodri also among the players being discussed as potential contenders.

“I don’t want to talk too much about myself. I speak on the pitch,” Kane told Spanish newspaper AS.

“Everyone is different. Lamine Yamal had a great season, and so did Michael Olise. The Ballon d’Or is not in my control.”

Asked about comments made by Yamal, Kane added: “I don’t know the intention behind what he said. He is an amazing player. He had a great season, as did many other players.

“Mbappe, Michael Olise and Rodri… there are many candidates.”

Kane said the final decision was beyond his influence and that he was content to wait for the outcome.

“Everyone has the right to express their opinion in the way they want. It does not depend on me,” he said.

“For me, I am enjoying everything that is happening. I will simply wait to see what happens. I will continue doing my work on the pitch, and then we will see how things turn out.”

Yamal’s view on the Ballon d’Or criteria

Yamal had argued that a player’s goal total should not be decisive when voters choose the Ballon d’Or winner.

The Barcelona player was responding to arguments from Bayern Munich officials who have used Kane’s goalscoring record to support his case for the award.

“I think the Ballon d’Or should go to the best player in the world, nothing more,” Yamal told Movistar Plus.

“It should not go to a player who has scored 80 goals, because if you score 80 goals, you receive the award for the top scorer of the year. The two things are completely different, and people do not understand that.”

Yamal said the world’s best player should be someone whose performance stands out while watching a match.

“The best player in the world is the one you follow during a game as a commentator and enjoy watching,” he added. “You see him and think: this player is clearly different from everyone else.”