Bellingham provokes Mbappe... and nominates Kane for 'Ballon d'Or'

English midfielder Jude Bellingham dealt a blow to his Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé after announcing his support for his compatriot Harry Kane, England’s striker, in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Mbappé, Kane, and Lamine Yamal are among the leading contenders for the prestigious award presented by the renowned French magazine France Football for the world’s best player of 2026. However, the midfielder publicly voiced his support for Kane, telling British media: “Honestly, nothing Kane does surprises me anymore. He is an amazing role model and a great person, and I’m honored to share the pitch with him. As I’ve said before, he deserves everything he achieves. He works hard and is a person of honesty and integrity.” When asked whether England’s captain could win the Ballon d’Or, the Real Madrid player replied: “Yes, it’s certainly possible.” The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London, the UK capital, on October 26.