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Ballon d'Or 2026: Papin backs Kane, bucking the trend

Hours before the London ceremony, Jean-Pierre Papin unveiled his personal podium: Mbappé, Kane and Lamine Yamal, with a marked preference for Bayern Munich's striker.

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Ballon d'Or 2026: Papin backs Kane, bucking the trend
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Jean-Pierre Papin has made his choice: if the 2026 Ballon d’Or were his alone to award, it would be Harry Kane lifting the trophy on Monday evening in London, ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.

The former Olympique de Marseille and France striker spoke on Sunday morning, hours before the ceremony. His pick for Bayern Munich’s centre-forward stands apart from some of the forecasts, which place Mbappé as the favourite. Rio Mavuba, for his part, displayed his support for the Frenchman on the same panel.

For Papin, the arguments in favour of Kane go beyond the statistics alone from a remarkable season in the Bundesliga. “I think the podium will be Mbappé, Kane and Lamine Yamal. And me, this year, if I had a small preference, I’d give it to Harry Kane. He seems like a straightforward guy, no over-the-top communication, class. And the player is incredible,” he said.

In establishing this podium, the former French international rules out other contenders in the running, among them Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé. The winner’s name will be revealed on Monday at the ceremony held in London.

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