Rice backs Kane to win Ballon d'Or despite being nominated himself

Declan Rice has thrown his support behind Harry Kane to win the Ballon d’Or, even as the Arsenal midfielder sits among the 30 nominees for the award himself.

Rice, who earned his nomination after winning the Premier League, reaching the Champions League final and helping England reach the World Cup semi-finals, was unambiguous about who he wants to claim the Golden Ball. “It’s the second year in a row I have been nominated. It’s obviously really good, I’m really proud,” he said. “Obviously I know who I want to win it. I’d love to see Harry Kane win it, so I’m wishing him all the best in that.”

Kane enjoyed a remarkable year at Bayern Munich, scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country. The former Tottenham striker is widely regarded as the frontrunner, and a victory would make him the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or in 25 years.

Rice is one of three Arsenal players on the shortlist, joined by defenders Gabriel and William Saliba, whose central defensive partnership has drawn widespread acclaim across Europe.

This year’s race is considered one of the most open in recent memory, with success spread across multiple clubs and nations. PSG retained the Champions League, while Spain won both Euro 2024 and the World Cup. Fabian Ruiz is the only player to have featured in both triumphs, though he is not among the leading contenders.

Kane’s case is not without complications — he was beaten to the best Bundesliga player award by Frenchman Michael Olise, while Kylian Mbappé broke the World Cup scoring record but ended the season without a trophy. Other names in contention include Ousmane Dembélé, the current holder, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, each with compelling arguments for and against.

Since Luka Modric ended the long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, five different players have claimed the award across seven editions — underlining just how competitive the field has become.