Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has responded to Lamine Yamal’s recent comments about the 2026 Ballon d’Or race, saying he would rather let his performances on the pitch speak for him.
The England captain spoke after Bayern’s emphatic 7-0 victory over Union Berlin on Friday, where he scored twice to reach 100 Bundesliga goals in just 98 appearances.
Kane was asked about Yamal’s comments amid growing debate over the award, with the Barcelona winger arguing that the Ballon d’Or should recognise the world’s best player rather than simply the player who scores the most goals or wins the most trophies.
Kane, however, declined to engage in a public exchange with the 19-year-old.
“I don’t really like talking about myself. I focus on my work on the pitch. Everyone has their own opinion on the subject, and that’s OK,” Kane said.
Asked whether he viewed Yamal’s remarks as a criticism of his own Ballon d’Or credentials, Kane said he was unsure of the Barcelona star’s intention.
“I don’t know how he meant it. Yamal is an incredible player. He had a great season, as did many others,” he said, while also mentioning Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Rodri among the contenders.
Kane added that every player had the right to express their opinion about the award.
“Everyone has the right to express themselves however they want. Everyone is different. That’s not up to me. I’ll keep doing my thing on the pitch, and then we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Kane’s response came after Yamal argued that the Ballon d’Or should not be determined solely by goals scored or team trophies.
The Barcelona youngster said the award should recognise the player who stands out as the best in the world, rather than automatically going to the highest scorer or a member of the team that wins the Champions League.
Kane enters the Ballon d’Or discussion after an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England. The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is scheduled to be announced on October 26.
For now, Kane appears content to leave the debate to others while concentrating on his performances on the pitch.
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