Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 power rankings: will there be an English winner for the first time in 25 years?

The Guardian UK Wednesday 09 September 2026, 13:04 UTC By Jeff Rueter 1 min read

Key Points

We assess the standing of the players on the shortlist for the award before the winner is announced in October1) Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)Even adjusting for the goal-drunken Bundesliga, his 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern last season undersells his all-around impact, considering his playmaking and hold-up skills. Kane was gameplanned out of England’s later games at the World Cup, but he was unstoppable through the last-16 to close out the finest year of his career to date.

We assess the standing of the players on the shortlist for the award before the winner is announced in October

1) Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)

Even adjusting for the goal-drunken Bundesliga, his 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern last season undersells his all-around impact, considering his playmaking and hold-up skills. Kane was gameplanned out of England’s later games at the World Cup, but he was unstoppable through the last-16 to close out the finest year of his career to date. If not now, when?

Men’s (ORG) Harry Kane (PERSON) England/Bayern (ORG) Bundesliga (ORG) Bayern (ORG) Kane (PERSON) England (LOCATION) the World Cup (EVENT)

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Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 power rankings: will there be an English winner for the first time in 25 years?

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