Marc Cucurella, a defender for Real Madrid, has expressed his surprise at Harry Kane winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Cucurella, a former Chelsea player, stated that while Kane's numbers were impressive, he personally would have given the award to either Kylian Mbappé or Lamine Yamal. He cited the entertainment value of both players as the reason for his preference. Cucurella made these comments during a recent media appearance while on international duty with Spain.
Cucurella acknowledged Kane's outstanding season, noting that his statistical dominance was impressive. However, he emphasized that as a football fan, he would prefer to watch Mbappé or Yamal play. Cucurella's comments have sparked debate about the criteria used to determine the Ballon d'Or winner. He refused to discredit Kane's achievement entirely but maintained that his personal preference lay with the two forwards who finished behind the Englishman.
Harry Kane secured his first Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium on October 26, edging out Mbappé by a slim 28-point margin. Mbappé amassed 1,027 points from the 100-journalist voting panel, while Kane secured 1,055 points. Lamine Yamal finished significantly further behind in third place, collecting 881 points following his World Cup-winning campaign with Spain.
According to France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia, Mbappé led the race for a long time before Kane secured a late surge of votes to claim the trophy. This victory made Kane the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. Cucurella's close professional relationships with both runners-up, Mbappé and Yamal, may have influenced his assessment, as he shares the Valdebebas training ground with Mbappé and regularly lines up alongside Yamal for the Spain national team.
Despite Cucurella's preference, Kane ultimately prevailed, having previously defeated Mbappé's France in the World Cup third-place play-off and eliminated Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. These victories cemented his status as the world's best player. Cucurella's comments highlight the subjective nature of the Ballon d'Or voting process and the varying opinions among football professionals.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or voting process was marked by a historically tight margin between the top contenders. The award ceremony took place on October 26, and Kane's victory was seen as a significant achievement for English football. However, Cucurella's comments have reignited the debate about the criteria used to determine the winner and the relative importance of individual statistics versus team success.
The discussion surrounding the Ballon d'Or winner is likely to continue, with opinions divided among football fans and professionals. While Kane's achievement has been celebrated in England, some, like Cucurella, believe that other players, such as Mbappé or Yamal, may have been more deserving of the honour. Ultimately, the Ballon d'Or voting process is subjective, and the outcome is often influenced by a range of factors, including individual performance, team success, and personal biases.
Key points
- Marc Cucurella suggests that Kylian Mbappé or Lamine Yamal should have won the 2026 Ballon d'Or instead of Harry Kane.
- Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or by a slim 28-point margin over Kylian Mbappé.
- The 2026 Ballon d'Or voting process was marked by a historically tight margin between the top contenders.
