Hoeness: Kane deserves the Ballon d'Or, giving it to Messi or Mbappé would be meaningless

Uli Hoeneß, the honorary president of Bayern Munich, has expressed his support for English striker Harry Kane's candidacy for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, emphasizing that the Bavarian team's forward has had an exceptional season on various fronts.

Uli Hoeneß said: "Harry Kane definitely deserves it, and I hope he wins it. He has had a fantastic season in all competitions, and if this year is not the right time for him to win the award, then when will it be?"

He added: "I think giving Lionel Messi the Ballon d'Or again would be meaningless," referring to his preference for awarding Harry Kane the prize this year.

Uli Hoeness has also touched on Kylian Mbappé's chances, saying that Real Madrid have not won any trophies, while Bayern Munich finished the season with two titles, considering that this works in Harry Kane's favour. Hoeness's comments come amid a fierce competition for the award, with Kane among the nominees.