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Muller backs Olise over Kane for Ballon d'Or despite England captain's 61-goal season

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller has predicted Michael Olise will beat Harry Kane to the 2026 Ballon d'Or, citing the Frenchman's 'artistic' quality — even as Kane remains the bookmakers' favourite after scoring 61 goals this season.

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Muller backs Olise over Kane for Ballon d'Or despite England captain's 61-goal season
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Thomas Muller has broken ranks with the bookmakers by tipping Bayern Munich team-mate Michael Olise ahead of Harry Kane in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite Kane’s extraordinary 61-goal season for the German club.

Kane, the England captain, is the odds-on favourite for football’s most prestigious individual award after a campaign that included a hat-trick in the DFB Pokal final and helped Bayern reach the Champions League semi-finals. Yet Olise, who won the Bundesliga Player of the Year award, contributed 15 goals and 19 assists in just 32 league appearances — a return that has drawn widespread admiration.

Muller, who played alongside both men at the Allianz Arena, explained his reasoning to German outlet Bild. “Generally, I see Harry as the more important player, but when it comes to the vote for the world’s best player, it’s more for players like Michael,” he said. “With this dance-like, artistic, ease, magic quality. You can’t learn that.”

The former Germany international was careful not to diminish Kane’s contribution. “With his finishing and attacking qualities, Harry is the best striker I currently see. He’s got a wide range of qualities, but he’s not a player who can dribble past four people. Michael is a player who delivers, a performer. That’s why he will carry and shape this team.”

Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 for £50 million, having previously been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City. The 23-year-old Frenchman has since developed into one of Europe’s most exciting wide players under Vincent Kompany.

Bayern’s Champions League campaign ended in the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain by a single goal. PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, is among the contenders again this year alongside Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Vitinha, and Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

The Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG could prove decisive in shaping the vote, which will be settled in October. Both Kane and Olise’s performances at the upcoming World Cup are also expected to carry significant weight with voters.

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