Ballon d’Or: Kylian Mbappe backed to win award in future by Owen Hargreaves after truly astonishing’ numbers - ‘Deserves one by now’
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By Ben Grounds
Published 01/11/2026 at 12:58 GMT
Harry Kane has finally got his hands on the Ballon d'Or, but the question of who will follow him as football's best player is already generating plenty of debate. Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal finished behind the Bayern Munich striker in the 2026 voting, with both expected to remain central figures in the race for years to come.
'Beyond my wildest dreams' - Kane becomes first English men's Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years
Video credit: SNTV
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves offered an assessment of all three players, explaining why Kane deserved the award ahead of two of football's most exciting talents.
"If you're talking about the most talented player, I think that's Yamal. If you're looking at the best all-round player, I'd probably say Mbappe. But in terms of a single season, I just think it was Harry," Hargreaves told TNT Sports.
Hargreaves recognised the individual brilliance of both players while believing Kane's overall body of work made him the deserved winner.
But with the England captain now having claimed football's biggest individual prize, attention is already turning towards who might follow him.
Hargreaves believes Mbappe could have the advantage in the immediate future, although Barcelona sensation Yamal has plenty of time to establish himself as the dominant force of the next generation.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder suggested that the outcome may depend as much on collective success as individual brilliance, with the UEFA Champions League potentially proving decisive.
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"Again, it's not really down to them. It's about what happens with their clubs," he explained.
"If you look at things on paper, I think Barcelona are one of the favourites for the Champions League. When you look at that team, it feels like they're really evolving and adding quality to the squad.
"Whoever wins the Champions League, whether it's Barcelona or Real Madrid, that player will probably be the favourite for the Ballon d'Or."
It is a familiar theme in the history of the award, with success at the highest level of club football often providing the platform for individual recognition.
For Mbappe, the challenge is to translate his extraordinary individual achievements into the major European honours that have so far eluded him.
The Frenchman has already enjoyed considerable success on the international stage, including winning the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the final four years later.
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Best moments from Kane's Ballon d'Or winning season
Video credit: TNT Sports
However, Hargreaves believes his lack of Champions League success - first with Paris Saint-Germain and now with Real Madrid - may have cost him an earlier opportunity to claim the Ballon d'Or.
"With Mbappe, you have to say that, given his body of work, he probably already deserves one by now," Hargreaves said.
"He was perhaps unlucky that PSG didn't achieve more success in the Champions League.
"He's been in a World Cup final, he's topped the scoring charts at the World Cup, and he's only 27. His body of work is truly astonishing, so he'll win it soon."
At 27, Mbappe is approaching what should be the peak years of his career, and Hargreaves clearly believes it is only a matter of time before the Real Madrid forward adds football's biggest individual prize to his collection.
But standing in his way is a player who, despite his tender age, has already established himself among the world's elite.
Yamal's rise at Barcelona has been remarkable, with the teenager continuing to attract comparisons with some of the greatest players to have played the game.
However, Hargreaves believes his age could paradoxically work against him when it comes to Ballon d'Or voting.
"With Yamal, I think being so young and so incredibly talented might actually count against him," he said.
While Yamal's extraordinary ability is there for everyone to see, voters may feel the Barcelona youngster has plenty of opportunities ahead of him to claim the award.
Hargreaves believes that was potentially an important factor in Kane's favour, with the England captain having reached a stage of his career where a season of this magnitude deserved particular recognition.
"That was also one of the reasons Harry had an advantage," Hargreaves said. "He's a bit more experienced, and you don't know when you're going to have a season like that again."
For Yamal, however, there seems little reason to panic. If anything, Hargreaves believes the Barcelona star's time will come.
"He's going to be in that conversation for the next 10 years, for sure," Hargreaves said.
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