Phil Bardsley believes Harry Kane has a strong case to be considered for the Ballon d’Or, but the former Premier League defender feels major trophies could ultimately play a decisive role in the voting.
Kane produced the best goalscoring season of his career in 2025/26, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich across all competitions. He also won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the European Golden Shoe after scoring 36 league goals.
Bardsley, who came through the Manchester United academy
before going on to play for Sunderland, Stoke City and Burnley, believes Kane’s numbers put him firmly among the candidates. However, he pointed toward the importance of Champions League and World Cup success when considering the award.
“Harry Kane for the Ballon d’Or? You have the lads at PSG winning the Champions League back-to-back. People are talking about Messi because of the World Cup campaign, though I’m not sure you can get it playing in America. Kane with his goals, there are so many options in there. Rodri as well, but has he done enough with the World Cup? I really don’t know where I’d hang my hat on that one, to be perfectly honest. There are some brilliant options and brilliant players who had fantastic seasons, so I’m glad I’m not in the vote,” Bardsley told Lyllo Casino. “I feel like you need a big trophy like the World Cup or Champions League to be in the mix and considered. I know people have won it before without them, but there’s so much more spotlight on that trophy now than there used to be back when Michael Owen won it and no one was really bothered.”
The Ballon d’Or criteria does not require a player to win the Champions League or World Cup, but it is a prevailing sentiment among some voters. France Football’s published criteria include individual performances, team performances and achievements, as well as class and fair play.
Kane himself has acknowledged the importance of team success when discussing the award, while maintaining that individual recognition is not his primary focus. He remains among the prominent candidates following his remarkable 2025/26 campaign.
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