Jamie Carragher has cast doubt on Harry Kane's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year, despite the striker's remarkable 72-goal season for Bayern Munich and England. The former Liverpool defender believes the award will almost certainly go to the standout player of the World Cup-winning nation.
Writing in The Telegraph, Carragher acknowledged that if the vote were held now, Kane would be the worthy winner. However, he argued that in a World Cup year, the Ballon d'Or is invariably awarded to the star player of the winning team. He suggested Lionel Messi would win if Argentina retain their title, while Kylian Mbappe or Michael Olise could be contenders if France triumph.
Kane scored twice for England in their round-of-32 win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, taking his tournament tally to five goals. His overall season tally of 72 goals is the highest by any player since Messi's peak years, surpassing even Cristiano Ronaldo's best single-season output.
Carragher noted that while Kane's goal output is superior to all rivals, the historical precedent favours World Cup winners. He pointed out that Messi won the Ballon d'Or in 2022 after leading Argentina to World Cup glory, but that was the first time since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 that a world champion had claimed the prize.
Despite Kane's form, Carragher concluded that England's inconsistent performances make it unlikely that the striker will lift the individual award, as the Ballon d'Or tends to follow the World Cup winner.
