Former Chelsea and Germany defender Robert Huth has weighed in on this year’s Ballon d’Or race, naming Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal as his two clear frontrunners for the prestigious award.
The ex-Premier League stalwart, however, offered a blunt assessment of Harry Kane’s prospects, insisting the England captain should only feature in the top ten—not the winner’s circle.
In an interview with Planet Football, Huth acknowledged Kane’s prolific form at Bayern Munich but stopped short of placing him among football’s elite contenders.
“Harry Kane should be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. He had a couple of good seasons with Bayern Munich,” Huth said. “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.”
When pressed to name his favourites for the 2026 crown, Huth singled out two attacking phenoms: France’s World Cup talisman Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
“I have really enjoyed Mbappé at the World Cup. Yamal was obviously the most amazing,” he added, highlighting Yamal’s breakout performances on the international stage as a key factor in his rapid rise.
Huth’s comments come amid mounting debate over this year’s ballot, with Kane’s domestic goal tally pitted against the sheer electric impact of younger stars.
While the Bayern striker remains a consistent scorer, the former Chelsea title-winner made it clear that, in his view, Mbappé’s big-game pedigree and Yamal’s generational flair set them apart in the race for football’s top individual honour.
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