Even Mbappé loses the Ballon d'Or battle to Kane

This Sunday, before El Clásico, Lamine Yamal and Mbappé were battling for the ball in the Pere Punti Oriol Martínez Classic, while former midfielder Michael Ballack, four‑time Bundesliga champion with Bayern and Premier League champion with Chelsea, was speaking with; neither Mbappé nor Lamine Ballack appear in the broadcast, but their names resonated in the conversation.

Career and statistics of Michael Ballack

Ballack is considered one of the most respected former footballers in German football. With Bayern Munich he won the Bundesliga on four occasions and, after his stint at Chelsea, lifted the Premier League. He amassed 152 goals in 604 official matches, a rare feat for a midfielder.

Ballack's opinion on the Ballon d'Or

On Sunday, before the classic, Ballack gave an interview to and was asked who deserved the Ballon d'Or that will be presented on Monday. In his words, “Since Messi and Ronaldo are not among the top candidates, despite Messi having a fantastic World Cup, I think Kane has earned this award because of the huge number of goals he has scored both with Bayern and with England.” The award will be presented this Monday night.

Last season, Harry Kane scored 61 goals in 51 matches, which earned him the Golden Boot. In the current campaign he has scored 10 in 12 matches, although his influence goes beyond the numbers. Bayern's coach, Vincent Kompany, stated that “Kane deserves the award for the way he plays for the team.”

Harry Kane celebrates, Ballon d’Or draws nearer in London

Mbappé leads the Spanish (merengue) delegation to London for the Ballon d'Or ceremony. Alongside him, Lamine Yamal, who also shone in the Pere Punti Oriol Martínez Classic, emerges as another contender for the award. The Frenchman, the all‑time top scorer in World Cup history, and the young Spaniard, league and World Cup champion, complete the trio of favorites together with Kane.

The Ballon d'Or gala will start this Monday at 21 h, broadcast by. Kane shares the nomination with Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, all with solid arguments: the Frenchman led World Cup history, the Spaniard won the league and the World Cup, and the Englishman added the Bundesliga to his achievements. The award has become the most contested individual trophy of recent years.

XXL reform: How German football wants to break Bayern's dominance

Ballack's opinion, an emblematic figure of European football, adds weight to the discussion about who will take home the Ballon d'Or. With the ceremony just around the corner, anticipation grows among fans of all leagues.