The 2026 Ballon d’Or race has taken a turn after Declan Rice backed Harry Kane for football’s biggest individual prize globally at the highest level. Rice has also found a place among the 30 nominees after winning the Premier League title as the Arsenal captain last season. The midfielder has picked his England captain as the player he would most like to see lift the trophy.
Kane’s remarkable season gives the endorsement plenty of weight. The Bayern Munich striker combined relentless goalscoring with silverware, making him one of the leading contenders ahead of the October Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Declan Rice Ballon d’Or Pick
Declan Rice’s verdict adds an intriguing English angle to an already competitive Ballon d’Or race. “I would love to see Harry Kane win the Ballon d’Or,” the Arsenal midfielder said, placing his international captain ahead of himself in the race.
Kane arrives with numbers that stand out. Bayern’s figures show he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions in 2025/26. He also won the Bundesliga Golden Boot with 36 goals and helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal.
Why Harry Kane Is A Major Ballon d’Or 2026 Contender
Kane’s case goes beyond his domestic scoring record. He wrapped up the season with 73 goals for club and country, while his Champions League campaign included 14 goals. The 33-year-old became the first English player to score in seven consecutive Champions League appearances.
His consistency strengthens a case built on both volume and impact. Kane also collected the European Golden Shoe after leading Europe’s leagues for scoring, underlining the scale of his campaign.
The Ballon d’Or 2026 competition is formidable. Defending champion Ousmane Dembele is nominated again after PSG’s European success. Kylian Mbappé remains a major threat after another prolific season with Real Madrid and France.
Lamine Yamal is another standout contender following his breakthrough campaign for Barcelona and Spain. Lionel Messi is also back on the shortlist, while Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Rodri and Vinicius Jr add heavyweight competition.
The ceremony will take place at London’s Palladium Theatre on October 26.
