Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth has named France captain Kylian Mbappe and Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal as the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, while insisting that England captain Harry Kane is unlikely to win football’s most prestigious individual award this year.
Huth made the remarks while assessing the performances of some of the world’s biggest football stars ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, saying that although Kane deserves recognition for his impressive displays with Bayern Munich, there are several players who have produced more exciting performances over the past season.
The former Germany international, who won the Premier League with Leicester City after spells at Chelsea and Middlesbrough, said Kane should be included among the top 10 contenders but does not believe the Bayern Munich striker has done enough to claim the coveted prize.
According to Huth, Kane has maintained a high level of consistency in Germany, scoring goals regularly and helping Bayern compete for major honours. However, he believes other players have made a stronger impact through their performances for both club and country.
“Harry Kane should be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. He had a couple of good seasons with Bayern Munich,” Huth was quoted as saying by Planet Football.
“He should be in the top 10. He is an amazing player, but in my opinion, there are a few more exciting players ahead of him.”
Asked to identify his favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, Huth pointed to Mbappe and Yamal as the two players who have stood out above the rest.
He praised Mbappe’s performances during the FIFA World Cup, describing the French forward as one of the tournament’s best players. The Real Madrid star has continued to strengthen his reputation as one of the world’s elite footballers with his pace, goalscoring ability and leadership on the international stage.
Huth also reserved special praise for 19-year-old Yamal, who has continued his rapid rise in world football with impressive displays for both Spain and Barcelona.
“I have really enjoyed Mbappe at the World Cup. Yamal was obviously the most amazing,” Huth said.
The Ballon d’Or, presented annually by France Football magazine, is regarded as the highest individual honour in football. The award recognises the player considered to have delivered the best overall performances during the season, taking into account achievements for both club and country.
In recent years, the race for the award has become increasingly competitive, with several young players emerging to challenge established stars.
Mbappe has long been considered one of the favourites for the honour after enjoying remarkable success with both club and country. The French forward has consistently finished among the world’s leading goalscorers and remains one of football’s biggest stars.
Yamal, meanwhile, has become one of the sport’s brightest young talents. Despite his age, he has earned widespread praise for his maturity, creativity and ability to influence matches at the highest level. His performances for Spain and Barcelona have made him one of the strongest contenders for major individual awards.
Kane, on the other hand, has continued to deliver outstanding goalscoring performances since joining Bayern Munich. The England captain has broken several scoring records and remains one of Europe’s most reliable strikers.
Despite his consistency, Kane has often found himself behind other players in the race for individual honours, largely because the Ballon d’Or usually favours footballers who combine outstanding personal statistics with major team success and memorable performances on the biggest stages.
The final shortlist for the award is expected to feature many of the game’s biggest names, including established stars and emerging talents who have enjoyed exceptional seasons.
While opinions differ on who deserves to win the prize, Huth believes Mbappe and Yamal have done enough to place themselves ahead of the competition.
His comments add to the growing debate among football fans and pundits over who should succeed as the world’s best player when the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or is eventually announced.