The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be revealed on October 26th. According to popular opinion, the title for the world’s best footballer is a two-horse race between Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal. Both players have made a strong case to win the award.

Harry Kane won the Bundesliga,DFB-Pokal, and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup with Bayern Munich last season, producing his highest-scoring season of all time. The Englishman also played a pivotal role in England’s third-place finish at the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal also produced the most prolific season of his career, scoring 25 goals and assisting 20 more across all competitions. The 19-year-old won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España, and also secured his first World Cup with Spain.

Little separates Kane and Yamal on their charges to win the Ballon d’Or. But Bayern’s Serge Gnabry believes his teammate has done enough to pip the Spanishphenom.

“It would be lovely if he were to win it,” said Gnabry (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “You always wish that for a teammate. He had an incredible year. So for me, of course, he has done enough to win it. He’s a key player for us and has shown his quality. I really hope he wins it.”

Bayern’s nasty history at French Football’s prized award ceremony haunts them still, but Harry Kane has the best chance to exorcise Die Rekordmeister’s Ballon d’Or demons.