Harry Kane’s quiet rise to Ballon d’Or glory puts Lamine Yamal’s stardom under scrutiny

Harry Kane’s understated career was held up as a model of professionalism as Lamine Yamal came under sharp criticism from British journalist Oliver Holt.

Kane, England’s captain, won the 2026 Ballon d’Or at a ceremony in London on Monday. Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Barcelona’s Yamal was third.

Writing for the Daily Mail, Holt contrasted Kane’s reserved approach to fame with the controversy surrounding Yamal’s 18th birthday celebrations and the wider culture of celebrity in modern football.

Before the Ballon d’Or vote, Yamal said: “I honestly think the two of us are the best in the world, and I deserved it this year because I won trophies.” He was referring to himself and Mbappe, who is 27, and did not include Kane in his assessment.

Holt, as reported by German newspaper Bild, argued that the comment reflected a troubling trend in the sport, with star players increasingly placing themselves at the centre of attention.

“We saw on Monday evening that football can give its highest awards to men like Kane: men who did not seek the limelight, did not create controversy, did not misuse their fame and did not allegedly employ little people to decorate their 18th birthday party, as Yamal is alleged to have done,” Holt wrote. “Instead, they devoted themselves to a career of quiet excellence.”

The reference was to claims surrounding Yamal’s birthday party, which he hosted after turning 18. It was alleged that people with dwarfism were hired and paid to attend the event.

The Spanish Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias (ASDD) said at the time that it intended to take legal action.

Holt also criticised Cristiano Ronaldo while praising Kane’s character. He described the England captain as “not an impulsive narcissist like Ronaldo”, but rather “reserved and humble”, calling him “the ideal professional”.

Despite finishing third in the main award, Yamal did not leave the ceremony empty-handed. The Barcelona winger won the Kopa Trophy for the third time, recognised as the best young player of the season.