Harry Kane is widely viewed as the leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after a 61-goal Bayern Munich season, while Rodri is firmly among the principal challengers. However, the claim that Michael Owen selected Kane and Rodri as his two front-runners is not supported by the reliable reports available; a similar public assessment came from former Tottenham striker Teddy Sheringham, who backed Rodri over Kane.
Kane is on the 30-man shortlist and is the bookmakers’ favourite ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London, which will be the first Ballon d’Or ceremony held outside Paris. He scored 61 goals and supplied seven assists in 51 appearances for Bayern during 2025–26, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. He then scored six goals as England reached the World Cup semi-finals and finished third.
The English striker’s case is primarily statistical and historic. His 61 goals were 19 more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues, and 36 came in the Bundesliga, securing his second European Golden Shoe. If Kane wins, he would become the first English recipient of the men’s award since Owen in 2001.
Rodri’s case is different. The midfielder won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup with Manchester City before moving to Barcelona, then played in all eight of Spain’s matches as they won the 2026 World Cup. A second Ballon d’Or would follow his 2024 triumph and reinforce the view that the award can recognise control, leadership and influence beyond pure goal totals.
Sheringham said Kane’s lack of a Champions League or World Cup title could count against him, despite his extraordinary scoring record. “Would he get my vote? Not really,” Sheringham told talkSPORT. “I think he’s had a phenomenal season, but the Ballon d’Or winner is normally one that wins the Champions League or the World Cup.” He named Rodri as the player he would choose.
Kane’s strongest competition is not limited to Rodri. Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, is considered one of the leading contenders, while Kylian Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the defending winner Ousmane Dembélé are also on the shortlist.
The 2026 award is based on performances between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026. Kane’s prolific scoring makes him the standout favourite, but Ballon d’Or voting often weighs achievements in the Champions League and international tournaments heavily. That leaves Rodri, Yamal and other players from Spain’s World Cup-winning group with credible cases to challenge him when the winner is announced in London on October 26.
