Harry Kane stands on the verge of ending England’s 25-year Ballon d’Or drought as the Three Lions captain heads into Monday’s glitzy London ceremony as favourite to be crowned the world’s best footballer. But with Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe breathing down his neck, the race for football’s most prestigious individual honour remains tantalisingly wide open.
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The 70th edition of the award, established by France Football, will be hosted in England for the first time in recognition of inaugural winner Stanley Matthews. How fitting it would be if Kane became the first Englishman to lift the trophy since Michael Owen in 2002.
The Bayern Munich striker’s case is compelling. He plundered a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, firing the German giants to a league and cup double whilst dragging England to the World Cup semi-finals.
“I’d love to be able to achieve something like that. It would be a massive milestone in my career,” the 33-year-old admitted, though the suspense is taking its toll. “I think my wife would prefer to know and my family… it’s very stressful for everyone.”
Yet semi-final exits in both the Champions League and World Cup could prove costly for Kane. In football’s most ruthless popularity contest, falling short at the final hurdles tends to count against you.
Enter Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Barcelona phenomenon who finished runner-up to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele last year. A hamstring injury curtailed his club campaign early, and whilst Spain conquered the World Cup, it was built on collective brilliance rather than individual stardom. Team-mates Rodri and Pau Cubarsi claimed player and young player of the tournament respectively.
That hasn’t dented Yamal’s swagger. “For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” he declared last month. “This year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won.”
Mbappe boasts the opposite problem, phenomenal personal milestones without the silverware to match. The 27-year-old topped the scoring charts in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup without lifting any of those trophies. His 10 World Cup goals made him the tournament’s all-time leading marksman on 22.
“Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends… is something that really stands out,” said Mbappe, before adding with trademark confidence: “Who am I voting for? Myself.”
One journalist from each of FIFA’s top 100 nations casts votes, with the player accumulating the most points crowned winner. Whilst there’s no cash prize, the commercial and marketing windfall can prove enormous.
In the women’s category, Alexia Putellas is tipped to claim a third Ballon d’Or, ending Aitana Bonmati’s three-year reign. Putellas won the Champions League with Barcelona before moving to London City Lionesses, with Poland’s Ewa Pajor, who netted 11 Champions League goals for Barca, her closest challenger.
Monday night promises fireworks.
