Harry Kane the Ballon d'Or favourite despite England's World Cup heartbreak - but is he really the best in the world?

Harry Kane finds himself bookmakers' top pick for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, sitting ahead of Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Rodri in the latest odds, even after England's World Cup dream ended in semi-final heartbreak against France.

The Bayern Munich striker has been a constant in the conversation all tournament, but it is his club form and goal returns in Munich that bookies believe will carry him over the line come the Ballon d'Or ceremony. One former England international has gone as far as to say a Kane snub would be "bizarre", while also arguing Yamal, the Barcelona wonderkid, should miss out this year.

The debate has been sharpened by England's exit itself. Kane and Jude Bellingham were both left out of the starting XI for the last-four defeat to France, a decision that raised eyebrows given their status as England's two biggest names, and both were reportedly "gutted" once the final whistle went. Kane has since played down any talk of a dressing-room split, hitting back at suggestions of "division" within Gareth Southgate's - or his successor's - squad and asking pointedly what more people expect Bellingham to say.

It is a curious dynamic: a player nursing another England tournament disappointment being installed as favourite for the game's biggest individual prize. Kane, for his part, has pointed to Messi's own trophy-laden path to argue his best days and biggest nights might still be ahead of him.

With Messi, Yamal, Mbappe and Rodri all still very much in the mix, the 2026 Ballon d'Or race looks set to run and run.