Former France Football editor-in-chief Pascal Ferré says Ballon d’Or voters can judge players independently, but publicity that makes them feel pushed toward a choice can irritate them and hurt a player’s chances, he told Le Parisien.
The article names Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane as the 2026 award’s frontrunner and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal as another leading contender. It says a Kane win would end Bayern’s 45-year wait; Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was the club’s last winner.
The site’s analysis offers a counterpoint by citing Robert Lewandowski’s 2021 campaign: his 41 Bundesliga goals broke Gerd Müller’s 49-year record, and he helped Bayern win a ninth consecutive league title and the FIFA Club World Cup. The analysis describes the season as Ballon d’Or-contending.
