Spanish media praise Kane's Ballon d'Or but say Yamal was penalised by World Cup anonymity

Harry Kane has won the Ballon d’Or, with Spanish media offering measured praise for the Bayern Munich striker while pinpointing Lamine Yamal’s subdued World Cup as the decisive factor that cost the Barcelona winger the award. Kane, who scored 73 goals last season as Bayern claimed a domestic treble in Germany, follows England legends Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen in winning the prize.

Despite the award going to an Englishman ahead of two Spanish-based stars, the reaction from Spain’s football press was largely gracious. AS ran the headline “not Yamal or Mbappé” with a tone of mild lament, yet its match report was effusive about Kane, describing the award as one that “recognises a career like few others, the career of one of the best strikers, and footballers, in history.” A separate piece on the same site acknowledged it had been “a year of imperfect candidates” while crediting Kane’s “impeccable yet understated career, which deserved recognition.”

On Yamal specifically, AS argued: “Lamine was penalised by his lack of brilliance in the crucial moments.” Catalan outlet MonEsport echoed that view, noting the 17-year-old’s “discreet role” in Spain’s World Cup triumph had likely proved costly. “Having won the League and the Super Cup with Barça and the World Cup with the Spanish national team has not been enough,” the site wrote. “His discreet role in the World Cup is probably what has condemned him.”

SPORT took a philosophical stance, writing: “Lamine and Mbappé could have won it, but the jury wasn’t influenced by the players’ campaigns. It should always be that way, because it’s an award earned on the pitch.”

Marca drew a historical parallel, noting that Spain had again been denied a Ballon d’Or in a World Cup-winning year. “Once again, it leaves Spain without a Ballon d’Or in the year they won the World Cup, as happened in 2010,” the outlet wrote. “On that occasion, Messi beat Iniesta and Xavi Hernández.”

MundoDeportivo focused on the scale of Kane’s goalscoring, describing his tally as “the second best in history only behind Leo Messi’s in 2011-12 (82 goals)” and arguing it made him “one of the top candidates for the award, which he ultimately won.”