Yamal and Kane one step from the Ballon d'Or in the Nations League

Wednesday September 30, 2026, the football Nations League has sparked the race for the Ballon d'Or between Lamine Yamal, a young Spanish star, and Harry Kane, Bayern Munich's striker, with both ready to prove their worth before the voting closes on October 28.

Yamal: the young Spanish prodigy

Lamine Yamal, a 19-year-old Catalan, opened the contest in the Nations League after less than two minutes, scoring the only goal against Saudi Arabia. He then netted a brace in the 4‑1 victory over Croatia, adding to his record with La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. “Another piece towards the Ballon d'Or,” the youngster said after the performance.

Kane: the Bayern striker

Harry Kane, a 33-year-old Londoner, has surpassed the three‑figure tally in the Bundesliga, reaching 101 goals in the match against Union Berlin, after having played 98 games in the German league. He sealed the match against the Czech Republic with the final goal in a 2‑0 win and scored a brace against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the round of 16. A missed penalty against Mexico halted his run, leaving him powerless against Argentina in the semifinal.

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A month after the England‑Spain showdown, Yamal and Kane will have to sit side by side in the audience of the Palladium Theatre in London, in a setting comparable to Wembley. The duel is described as a very evenly matched head‑to‑head, with bookmakers now offering almost identical odds for the two contenders.

The bookmakers' odds show a surprising parity, reflecting the tight competition between the two. Both players have demonstrated decisive abilities in their respective leagues, making it hard to predict a clear favorite.

The ballot of the one hundred voting journalists closes on Monday, October 28; the final result will be known on October 26. With the voting now concluded, the race for the Ballon d'Or will depend entirely on the performances recorded before that date.