Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise has disagreed with Thierry Henry’s choice for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, backing his teammate Harry Kane to win the prestigious individual award.
Henry recently selected Kylian Mbappé as his leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or, with Olise himself among the players the former France international considered a strong contender. Henry argued that Mbappé’s individual numbers, including his goals in the Champions League, La Liga and World Cup, made him a leading candidate despite Real Madrid and France failing to win major trophies.
Olise, however, believes Kane deserves the award after the England captain’s outstanding campaign for Bayern Munich and the national team.
Asked why Kane should win, Olise gave a straightforward response: “Because he was the best player last season.”
Kane is widely regarded as one of the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after scoring 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich. He also scored six goals for England at the World Cup, while his overall tally across club and international football reached 73 goals.
Olise has also strengthened his own case for the award. The France international has enjoyed an impressive start to the new season and scored twice in Bayern’s 5-0 Champions League victory over Bodø/Glimt. His performances have kept him firmly in discussions surrounding the Ballon d’Or.
The disagreement highlights the competitiveness of this year’s Ballon d’Or race, with Kane, Mbappé, Olise, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and several other stars among the leading contenders.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London. The award will recognise the player judged to have produced the strongest individual performance during the previous season, with the final decision determined by an international journalists’ vote.
