As the 2026 Ballon d’Or approaches, football legend Lothar Matthaus has offered his perspective on the leading contenders for the sport’s most prestigious individual honor. The 70th annual gala, which will be held in London for the first time to honor inaugural winner Sir Stanley Matthews, is scheduled for October 26. Matthaus, who secured the trophy himself in 1990 following a World Cup victory, has analyzed the field of candidates, which includes Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal.
Writing in his column for Sky, the former Bayern Munich star explicitly ruled out Lamine Yamal. Despite the young talent’s success with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team—which recently claimed the world title—Matthaus stated, “In Lamine Yamal’s case, I’d say no!” He maintains that none of the Spanish players currently warrant the award, regardless of their international achievements.
Matthaus also dismissed the candidacy of Lionel Messi. Although the Argentine star scored eight goals during the 2026 World Cup and nearly secured a second consecutive title, his defeat in the final and his current tenure in the MLS have hindered his prospects. Organizers have clarified that a World Cup win does not automatically guarantee the Ballon d’Or, and Matthaus believes Messi’s league status makes him an unlikely winner despite his record-breaking eight previous trophies.
The German icon also excluded Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham from his top choice, noting that their failure to secure a trophy with Real Madrid during the season weakened their arguments. Instead, Matthaus has thrown his support behind Harry Kane. He praised the striker for winning two domestic titles with Bayern Munich, noting that Kane did not experience a single poor spell throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
The only drawback Matthaus identified for Kane was his failure to reach the final of either the Champions League or the World Cup. Nevertheless, he views the Englishman as the most deserving candidate in a race that remains wide open following the conclusion of the club season in Europe.
The upcoming ceremony marks a significant milestone in the award’s history. While Messi’s loss in the World Cup final shifted the narrative, the criteria for the prize remain focused on overall performance rather than singular tournament outcomes. As the October 26 announcement date nears, the debate continues to intensify among fans and pundits alike. The report also notes that this year’s award ceremony is also held after Spain became champions of world football, and similar to his crowning moment back then. The report also notes that lionel Messi nearly pulled off the unthinkable at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
