Jamie Carragher tells Harry Kane why he won't win Ballon d'Or after World Cup heroics
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Harry Kane has been in sensational form for England and Bayern Munich this season with 72 goals, but Jamie Carragher believes the striker will miss out on the 2026 Ballon d'Or to the star of the World Cup-winning nationHarry Kane scored two for England(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)Jamie Carragher reckons Harry Kane will likely miss out on the Ballon d'Or this year due to his England colleagues. Yet that purple patch coinciding with a World Cup could ultimately hamper his prospects of securing individual recognition, according to former England international Carragher.Carragher penned in The Telegraph: "If the vote for the Ballon d'Or was being held right now, Kane would be the worthy winner, his heroics for England against DR Congo absorbing his 72nd goal of this season."Only Lionel Messi has recently hit those kinds of numbers.
Much as I want to believe England can still win it, there is nothing to support that opinion, especially after recent performances."If Argentina retain the cup, Messi will win the Ballon d'Or. Kane's Bayern team-mate Michael Olise is a strong contender, and even though, by Kylian Mbappe's standards, he has had a frustrating year with his club, that will be forgotten when judged against his fantastic World Cup displays."Another of the Paris St-Germain stars might be celebrating a personal accolade, even though their Champions League win felt more of a team effort than the consequence of one outstanding contribution.
He is performing at the same level as France's best and Messi, going toe-to-toe in the Golden Boot race."Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)Carragher's assessment proved accurate, as Messi secured the Ballon d'Or for an eighth time following Argentina's World Cup triumph. Messi and Ronaldo also failed to lift the tournament throughout their ten years monopolising the award.Consequently, Messi became the first player to claim the Ballon d'Or following World Cup triumph in 17 years, since Fabio Cannavaro, who secured it in 2006.