Englishman back on top! Kane overtakes Yamal and Messi in Ballon d'Or race

Kane may finally claim the award he has dreamed of his entire career.

Details: According to The Touchline, Harry Kane is currently the frontrunner to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Bookmakers rate his chances at 2.00—the best odds among all contenders. Notably, after England crashed out of the World Cup, Kane lost his top spot to Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, but has now reclaimed his position at the head of the race.

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Kane had already topped this ranking in the spring, when his goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final catapulted the Englishman to first place in Polymarket odds with 27 percent, ahead of Yamal and Mbappé, who each had 22 percent. At the World Cup, the striker was also outstanding: together with Jude Bellingham, he scored six goals, and for the first time in World Cup history, two players from the same national team netted 6+ goals each in a single tournament. Still, the Golden Boot ultimately went to Kylian Mbappé, who racked up ten goals.

It's worth noting that Kane has often said that without a Champions League or World Cup trophy, the Ballon d'Or is out of reach for him—even if he scores a hundred goals in a season. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 26. The striker is currently negotiating a new contract with Bayern, with his current deal running until summer 2027, and Transfermarkt values the Englishman at 60 million euros.

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