Jamie Carragher has ruled Harry Kane out of the race for the Ballon d'Or and explained why the England skipper won't win the prestigious award.
Kane is among the favourites to win the Ballon d'Or later this year after enjoying a phenomenal season at Bayern Munich. He found the back of the net an astonishing 61 times in 51 games across competitions while also providing seven assists.
The 32-year-old has carried that form into the World Cup with England, firing the Three Lions to the Round of 16. A brace in a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo means the former Tottenham Hotspur striker sits on five goals in four games.
Carragher: Kane won't win Ballon d'Or
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher
Kane has been one of the World Cup's best performers thus far and is rivalling Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi (both six) and Erling Haaland (five) in the Golden Boot race. His red-hot form has kept Thomas Tuchel's side in the tournament but Carragher doesn't expect them to go on and win it.
Carragher feels England will fall short, which will ultimately cost Kane a Ballon d'Or win. The Liverpool legend wrote in The Telegraph:
"If the vote for the Ballon d'Or was being held right now, Kane would be the worthy winner, his heroics for England against DR Congo absorbing his 72nd goal of this season. Only Lionel Messi has recently hit those kinds of numbers. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo was so prolific in one campaign."
Carragher added: "Based on the past 12 months, Kane should win the Ballon d'Or. Unfortunately, he probably won't because in a World Cup year, it is bound to go to the star player of the winning nation."
France have been the team to beat thus far and Carragher named Mbappe and Michael Olise as contenders. He also reckons Messi might end up winning his ninth award:
"Much as I want to believe England can still win it, there is nothing to support that opinion, especially after recent performances. If Argentina retain the cup, Messi will win the Ballon d'Or. If France win the competition, one of their key men will get it. Kane's Bayern team-mate Michael Olise is a strong contender."
Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe (France) celebrate at World CupJohn Sibley via Action Images via Reuters
Carragher doesn't think Mbappe's struggles with Real Madrid will prevent him from winning the award if he goes on to win the World Cup. He also tipped Ousmane Dembele to be in the running after enjoying "another fantastic season."
Kane's best Ballon d'Or finish came in 2024 when he finished fourth, missing out on a place on the podium. If he were to win the award, he'd become the first Englishman to do so since Michael Owen back in 2001.
Kane can win Ballon d'Or without World Cup glory
Harry Kane in action for England vs Croatia at the 2026 World CupHannah Mckay via Reuters
A Ballon d'Or win isn't reliant on World Cup glory, and Messi became the first player to win the award as a world champion since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. There are other factors taken into account, including club success, of which Kane fired Bayern to the Bundesliga title.
|Harry Kane for Bayern Munich 2025-26|
|Competition|Appearances|Goals|Assists|
|---|
|Bundesliga|31|36|5|
|UEFA Champions League|13|14|2|
|DFB-Pokal|6|10|0|
|Other Club Comps|1|1|0|
|All Competitions|51|61|7|
If Kane were to win the tournament's Golden Boot, that could also work in his favour against Mbappe and Messi. Should he lift the trophy itself, he'd almost certainly seal a place among the top three or even claim the award.
England face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Monday (July 6th) at the Azteca, hoping to make the quarter-finals. Kane has saved his nation several times, including with a brilliant double in a comeback win against Congo.
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