According to a report from Daily Post Nigeria, on Wednesday October 28, 2024, former France international Samir Nasri has questioned whether Harry Kane’s performances in high-pressure matches justify his 2026 Ballon d’Or victory.

Kane won the award in London on Monday, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. Speaking to Canal+, Nasri acknowledged that the striker’s impressive statistics played a major role in the result, but argued that Kane had not often carried his side through the biggest contests.

“The statistics made the difference,” Nasri said. “But he’s never been the player who carried his team or made them win the very big matches.”

Despite his criticism, Nasri praised Kane as an “extraordinary player.”

The 33-year-old enjoyed a prolific season, scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England across all competitions. He also helped Bayern secure three major titles, including the Bundesliga championship.

Nasri’s comments highlight a debate that often follows individual awards: whether a player’s numbers and trophies outweigh their influence in decisive matches.