Missing shot magic, therefore: Müller overlooks Kane at the Ballon d'Or

Thomas Müller, the Bayern legend, explained in his newsletter “Müller‑Mail” that he does not consider Harry Kane for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Instead, he backs Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé because, in his view, they possess the necessary “magic shot”. According to Getty Images, the race for the prestigious award is as open and exciting as it has been in a long time, and the winner will be crowned on 26 October in London.

Internal favourites at Bayern Munich

At FC Bayern Munich the internal marching order is already clear: coach Vincent Kompany, honorary president Uli Hoeneß and the current teammates are calling for the golden ball for their 73‑goal man Harry Kane. They see him as the ideal candidate because he delivers record numbers in the Premier League. Despite this internal pressure, Müller remains skeptical and questions the position of the English captain.

Müller’s choice: Olise and Mbappé

In his statement Müller does not mention Kane’s name even once. Instead, the 37‑year‑old 2014 world champion writes: “For me there are two candidates who have impressed me the most with their individual performance, and those are Michael Olise and his kindred partner at the World Cup Kylian Mbappé.” He justifies his decision by saying that both players display spectacular interplay with high goal‑threat.

The former Bayern striker emphasizes that the Olise show in the 7‑0 victory over Union Berlin impressed him especially. Müller, who is currently playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada, watched the match live on TV and praised the ease with which Olise dominated the game.

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Müller continues: “The two combine spectacle with goal‑threat. In detail they manage to be efficient with their finesse and power, and still make it look ultra‑light.” His conclusion is: “That is, for me, the material for a world‑class footballer. You simply need a magic shot.”

For the 33‑year‑old captain of the Three Lions, a vacancy in the voting would be a bitter setback, especially since the gala takes place in his English hometown of London. Müller, however, points out that the final decision is not made by him but by an international jury.

Whether the jury will similarly criticize the lack of a “magic shot” in Kane will become clear at the end of October, when the award ceremony takes place in London.