Matheus: Kaan is more deserving of the 'Ballon d'Or'

German football legend Lothar Matthäus expressed his belief that English striker Harry Kane, of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, is leading the race to win the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player last season.

Matthäus, 65, said during his talk show on the German newspaper Bild’s platform: “I would be happy if Kane wins the award, not because he is a Bayern player, but because he is a distinguished ambassador for football.”

Matthäus outlined three reasons why the English star deserves the Ballon d’Or: his exceptional goal-scoring record in Bayern Munich’s campaign to win both the Bundesliga and the German Cup, England’s reach of the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, and Kane’s role as a sporting role model.

Kane, 33, is among a list of 30 players nominated for the prestigious award, which will be presented by the French sports newspaper France Football at a ceremony in London on October 26.