Guti: Mbappé and Yamal deserved award more

While the Ballon d’Or was being presented in London, former Real Madrid player José Guti sat riveted in front of the TV. When the name of Harry Kane, striker of Bayern Munich, appeared on the screen, he covered his face with both hands, clearly surprised by the choice.

Guti's critical look at the election

Guti raises questions about the selection of Harry Kane as the winner of the Ballon d’Or. The former Real Madrid player finds the choice illogical given the performances of other candidates.

He points out that the award was presented in London and that the winner came from that same city. ‘How coincidental that they bring the seventieth edition of the Ballon d’Or to London and someone from London wins’, he says in the Spanish programme El Chiringuito.

According to Guti, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal deserved the award more. ‘Lamine and Mbappé deserve it more’, he adds.

Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or in close vote

Harry Kane, English striker of Bayern Munich, received the award Monday evening for the first time in his career. He finished in the voting ahead of Mbappé and Yamal, who became second and third respectively.

Guti reports that Kane himself was also surprised when his name was announced. The former midfielder suspects that the Englishman thought Mbappé and Yamal would finish above him.

Vincent Garcia, head of the organiser France Football, describes the battle between Kane and Mbappé as particularly exciting. He stated that the points difference between the two was smaller than the 41 points that separated Rodri and Vinícius Júnior in 2024.

Ballon d’Or: Kane triumphs, the Kate Goodland controversy flares up

The full voting breakdown will be revealed on Saturday. This will further fuel the discussion about the fairness of the election.