Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has thrown his support behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, placing the England captain ahead of Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe despite the Frenchman’s remarkable goalscoring campaign.
Burley’s choice comes after a season in which both forwards produced extraordinary numbers for club and country, making the race for football’s most prestigious individual prize one of the most closely contested in recent years.
Mbappe enjoyed a prolific campaign with Real Madrid, scoring 42 goals in all competitions for the Spanish giants. His form also continued on the international stage, where he found the net 10 times for France during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The French forward finished as the leading scorer in both LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League. He scored 25 league goals and added 15 in Europe, underlining his importance to Real Madrid and reinforcing his status as one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
Kane, however, matched — and in some respects surpassed — Mbappe’s output over the course of the season.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country, including seven at the World Cup, where England finished third. His performances in Germany were particularly influential as Bayern secured the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.
Kane finished the 2025-26 campaign with 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern across all competitions, further strengthening his case for the individual award.
For Burley, however, Kane’s credentials extend beyond his impressive goalscoring figures and trophy haul. The former Scotland international believes the striker’s all-round contribution to his teams makes him a worthy Ballon d’Or winner.
Speaking on ESPN UK, Burley said: “It cannot solely be about trophies. [Harry Kane has demonstrated] remarkable consistency throughout, and I don’t care what he has won or didn’t win. Kane’s overall game, in addition to his goal-scoring, is truly impressive.
“His ability to drop back, his passing skills, and his finishing are all exceptional. I believe that if he were to win the Ballon d’Or, it would be a well-deserved acknowledgment of how he has conducted himself for both club and country throughout his career, culminating in a spectacular season at Bayern.”
Kane’s ability to operate as more than a traditional centre-forward has long been regarded as one of his defining qualities. While his finishing remains his most obvious strength, his willingness to drop into midfield, link play and create opportunities for teammates has added another dimension to his game.
His 2025-26 season further demonstrated that versatility, with the England captain combining an extraordinary scoring record with his broader responsibilities in Bayern’s attacking system.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has his own compelling argument. His 10 World Cup goals matched the tournament’s highest scoring mark in the campaign described above, while his 15 Champions League goals made him the competition’s leading scorer. His ability to deliver consistently at the highest level for both Real Madrid and France places him firmly among the leading contenders.
At the World Cup, Kane finished three goals behind Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, scoring seven times as England reached the semi-finals and eventually claimed third place.
The contrasting profiles of the two forwards could ultimately make the Ballon d’Or debate particularly intriguing. Mbappe offers explosive pace, elite finishing and outstanding production in major competitions, while Kane combines goalscoring with playmaking and a more traditional No. 9 role.
Burley’s endorsement nevertheless makes it clear that, for him, the award should recognise more than medals and headline statistics.
With both strikers having enjoyed spectacular seasons, the final Ballon d’Or decision is likely to generate significant debate, but Kane’s historic campaign at Bayern has given him a strong platform to challenge Mbappe for the individual crown.