King Harry And The Ballon d’Or! — Odegbami

Last week, it was announced. The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or is Harry Kane of England. That means he is the best player in the world in 2026.

Without doubt, Harry is a great football player, one that has won several laurels in England and in Europe, particularly with his German Club.

In front of goal, he has a special ‘nose’ for burying the ball behind goalkeepers.

He is so good that he has scored more goals than any other player in Europe for three seasons. His club has been German and European champions. And so on and so forth.

So, ordinarily, he should qualify for any individual title in Europe and, probably, in the world without much fuss.

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Yet, when his name was mentioned as winner of the most prestigious individual football title in the world last week, there was an audible gasp amongst many football faithfuls around the world.

How? Harry Kane, best player in the world? You mean that Harry Kane that we all know and have seen through the past years and at the recent World Cup, is the best player in the world? How?

Whatever happened to the Messis, Ronaldos, Neymars, exceptionally gifted players who would leave moments of sheer brilliance lingering in people’s minds long after matches have been concluded? Whatever happened to players that have almost single-handedly won the biggest titles? Where are the players so brilliant on the ball that analysts would comb through poetic literature to describe them?

Messi and Ronaldo set standards impossible to match. For almost two decades they have dazed the world with the sheer brilliance and artistry, their achievements becoming current benchmarks for Ballon d’Or winners, setting standards that great players like Harry Kane would find hard to match.

Even in the twilight of their careers, Messi and Cristiano continue to light up the football skies.

I have asked myself over and over again: had Argentina defeated Spain in the final match of the 2026 World Cup, who would have questioned Messi’s claim to another Ballon d’Or?

If that is true, it means that the greatest player that ever played the game only got denied the award because he failed to win the most coveted 2026 World Cup trophy. He was close.

Harry Kane did not even get to the finals. Apart from scoring a few critical goals that lifted England, he did not play exceptionally well throughout. There was not one memorable great move by Harry throughout the World Cup.

Agreed that performance at the World Cup was not part of the criteria for the selection, or is it?

Harry is a great player, but surely not in the league of Ronaldo and Messi, on the ball, when the best in the world is being considered.

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The best player in the world must have more than just one or two great skills. He must come with a retinue; ability to provide leadership that transforms matches, make moves that leave pictures in the mind of fans; leave fans salivating for more of them.

Harry Kane comes close, but is not quite there.

Where is Rodri whose midfield performance for Spain won them the World Cup – easily the greatest midfield player of this generation, making football elegant, graceful and so simple and beautiful?

Where is Hakim, the most solid, most compact, most creative attacking Full-Back in the world?

Where is Mbappe, the galloping striker, whose skills and speed belong in the realm of the gods?

Where is Yamal? Too young? Or too soon to be crowned king? His left foot is poetry in motion.

Having said all of that, however, I congratulate Harry Kane. The controversy over his choice shall continue everywhere in the world except in England where he is being celebrated already as King Harry.

Nnamdi Ezekute is an experienced sports journalist and reporting expert with a strong background in sports news and coverage. He has built his career at Complete Communications Limited (CCL), the company behind popular sports publications such as Complete Sports. Over the years, Nnamdi has developed his skills in sports reporting, covering important stories and keeping readers informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. Through his work with Complete Sports, Nnamdi shares sports news, reports, and updates with readers who follow Nigerian and international sports.

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