Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has bypassed Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane in his predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, instead naming Barcelona midfielder Rodri as his clear favorite. Despite Kane’s remarkable individual campaign, which saw him net 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions to help Vincent Kompany’s Bayern secure a domestic treble, Sheringham believes the award should recognize Rodri’s impact in securing major silverware.
Sheringham’s endorsement of the Spaniard stems from Rodri’s influence on the pitch, noting that “his teams normally win week in, week out.” Rodri, who previously claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or following Manchester City’s historic Premier League four-peat and Spain’s Euro 2024 success, continued his momentum by winning two domestic cups with City last season. He further solidified his credentials by captaining Spain to victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where he played in all eight matches.
Kane’s own 2026 campaign included a strong showing at the World Cup, where he scored seven goals for England, including a performance in the 6-4 third-place play-off victory against France. Currently, the England captain has started the 2026-27 season with three goals and one assist in five matches. In his most recent appearance, he scored and assisted during Bayern’s 5-0 UEFA Champions League opening win against Bodø/Glimt. This goal marked his 55th in the competition, making him the third-fastest player to reach that milestone in 71 matches, trailing only Erling Haaland at 49 games and Ruud van Nistelrooy at 70.
While Kane has yet to find the net in his first two Bundesliga appearances this term, he has already recorded two goals in a single DFB-Pokal outing. Despite these impressive statistics, both Kane and Rodri remain among the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Sheringham insisting that the midfielder’s ability to lead his side to major titles makes him the most deserving recipient. The report also notes that who won an unprecedented Premier League four-peat, before playing a key role in Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign, rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or after a superb season with Manchester City.
