Harry Kane issues cold response to Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or claim after making Bundesliga history

Harry Kane has made Bundesliga history once again shortly after shut down Lamine Yamal's latest comments on the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

In just over one month, the London Palladium will welcome the best footballers from across the globe for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Among the favourites to win the award this year is England captain Kane, who responded to Yamal's recent comments about the award after he again made history on Friday by becoming the fastest player ever to score 100 Bundesliga goals, doing so in just 98 appearances.

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Harry Kane addresses Ballon d'or chances after Lamine Yamal comments

In 2025/26, Kane had what was undoubtedly the best season of his career, scoring 73 goals and provided eight assists in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England, which averages to a goal every 71 minutes.

His goalscoring efforts saw him win the European Golden Shoe, while Bayern won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, as well as the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, and England finished third at the World Cup, their best result since winning the trophy in 1966.

This has led to many fans and pundits claiming that Kane is the standout pick for the Ballon d'Or this year, but this point of view clearly clashes with Barcelona superstar Yamal's beliefs, as he argued he and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe were the best players in the world.

Yamal told Movistar: "Who would I give the Ballon d'Or to? I honestly think there are perhaps only two players who are the best in the world, but I deserve it this year.

"For me, Kylian Mbappe and I are the best two players, and anyone who watches the matches knows that.

"I believe I deserve this Ballon d'Or also because of the titles I have won and achieved last season. That's my view."

The comments immediately were met with backlash online, with many criticising Yamal's demands to win the Ballon d'Or and his apparent dismissal of Kane's chances.

But when asked for a response, Kane kept it respectful, saying his achievements rather than any comments in the media will win or lose him the Ballon d'Or this year.

“I don’t want to talk a lot about myself. I talk on the pitch. Everyone is different,” Kane said, according to AZ Strasser.

“Lamine Yamal had a great season, Michael Olise as well. The Ballon d'Or is not in my hands”

Meanwhile Bayern chief Max Eberl wasn't quite so respectful, as he brutally shut Yamal down with comments after Bayern's latest 7-0 win over Union Berlin.

He said: "There has to be campaigning. The best are the players who do not need campaigning."

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What did Lamine Yamal say about the Ballon d'Or

In his full interview Yamal criticised how the Ballon d'Or is now viewed, stating that it used to be about the best players in the world, who he aruges are himself and Mbappe, but has now become about the players who win the most trophies.

"That award is being viewed differently now," he told Movistar.

"When [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] were around, everyone knew they were the two best in the world, so the award was shared between the two players.

"The problem now is that people are focusing on things that have nothing to do with the Ballon d'Or. For example, when they say a PSG player has to win it because they’ve won the Champions League.

"When you win the Champions League, PSG are awarded the Champions League trophy for being the best team, and that’s the prize that belongs to PSG.

"It’s a different matter altogether if the world’s best player happens to be at PSG. In that case, I believe the award should go to the world’s best player, full stop.

"Not to a player who’s scored 80 goals, because when you score 80 goals, you’re given the top scorer award for the season.

"These are very different things that people aren’t understanding. The best player in the world is the one who, as a pundit, makes you watch the match and enjoy it; you see him, and he’s a player who stands out from the rest.

"When the focus returns to that - and the best player in the world is recognised as the best, not the one who scores the most goals or has won the most titles - then the award will regain the value it deserves."

Yamal then reiterated that he deserved to win this year's award.

As it stands, Kane is the favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, followed by both Yamal and Mbappe.

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