Harry Kane headlines a four-player Bayern Munich contingent nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, joining teammates Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Dayot Upamecano on the 30-player shortlist announced today.
The quartet could become the first Bundesliga player to lift the Ballon d'Or since Borussia Dortmund's Matthias Sammer in 1996, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.
Kane enters as a strong contender after an exceptional 2025-26 season that saw him score 36 goals and provide five assists in the Bundesliga alone. The England captain added 14 strikes in 13 UEFA Champions League games during Bayern's run to the semi-finals and netted a hat-trick in the DFB Cup final as the club completed a domestic double.
His most impressive feat came at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, where Kane scored six times while captaining England to third place — their best finish since 1966. Across all competitions for club and country, Kane tallied 73 goals during the season.
"I'm happy that I am in contention, so we will have to wait and see," Kane said in an interview with Owen Hargreaves to be aired on HBO Max. "The thing with football opinions – there are so many opinions, so many arguments for different players, and people love this player because 'he's fast' and 'he's got great IQ' and 'his finishing is great'. So I think that is what makes football special, all those debates, and the Ballon d'Or is definitely one of them."
Kane's Bayern teammates also posted impressive numbers. Olise dazzled with 15 goals and 19 assists, while Díaz contributed 15 goals and 14 assists. Upamecano anchored a defense that lost only one league game all campaign under Vincent Kompany's guidance.
Bayern Munich received ten nominations across the award's 12 categories. The club is also in contention for Men's Club of the Year, with Kompany nominated for Men's Coach of the Year. Eighteen-year-old Lennart Karl earned a spot on the Young Talent of the Year shortlist after his breakthrough 2025-26 campaign.
The women's team matched their male counterparts' success, earning a nomination for Women's Club of the Year after securing a domestic double and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Klara Bühl and Pernille Harder are both in contention for Women's Player of the Year.
A jury of 100 international football journalists will vote for the winner before the October ceremony. The award is based on performances during the 2025-26 season, covering the period from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026.
Current holder Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 award after a stellar campaign. This year's ceremony marks the 70th annual presentation of the prestigious honor by France Football magazine.
