Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or case continues to generate plenty of discussion, and former Borussia Dortmund and Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert believes the Bayern Munich striker absolutely belongs in the conversation.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offers the latest football odds, Lambert, who was part of Dortmund’s 1997 Champions League-winning team and earned 40 Scotland caps during his playing career, praised Kane’s extraordinary goalscoring record and the way the England captain conducts himself away
from the pitch.
“If you look at Harry Kane’s goalscoring record, it’s been phenomenal. What I really like about Harry Kane, and I don’t know him personally, is that he seems really humble. That’s a great trait in any footballer. It doesn’t matter how many goals he scores, he comes out and says all the right things and conducts himself really well,” said Lambert. “Would he be a worthy winner? Yeah, he’d be a worthy winner. But it’s so rare to win the Ballon d’Or without winning a World Cup or a Champions League.
“That’s the reality of it. When you look at Rodri and players like that who are World Cup or Champions League winners, it’s going to be tough. But quite rightly, he’s in the conversation for it.”
That last point is where the Kane debate gets particularly interesting. Kane’s individual production has put him firmly among the leading candidates for the 2026 award, but Lambert points to the traditional importance of major international and European trophies when voters make their decision. Current Ballon d’Or coverage has Kane among the leading contenders after a prolific season for Bayern Munich.
For Kane, the argument remains straightforward: if the Ballon d’Or is supposed to recognize the world’s best individual player, his goals, performances and overall contribution have put him squarely in that discussion.
Lambert agrees on one important point, at least: Kane has earned his place at the table.
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