THE FUSE

Spain's Marc Cucurella, the Real Madrid defender, expressed his understanding of England's Harry Kane winning the Ballon d'Or, but he would have preferred it to go to France's Kylian Mbappé or the young Spaniard Lamine Yamal, his team-mates at club and international level respectively.

Asked by Spanish programme "El Chiringuito" whether Kane's Ballon d'Or win was unfair, Cucurella said: "No, I can't say it was unfair, because if you look at his numbers, you'll find they are numbers he may not be able to repeat again. In that sense, he had an exceptional season."

He added: "But personally I would have given it to Mbappé or Lamine Yamal, because in the end they are the type of players I turn on the television to watch, as a football fan, do you understand what I mean?"

"It's not that Kane didn't deserve the award," he continued, "but I must admit that I was a little surprised by the result."

The debate over Kane's 2026 Ballon d'Or rumbles on, and the Spaniard's words add fuel to it. Mbappé and Yamal made for stiff competition, finishing second and third in the final vote.

Kane collected 1,055 points for Bayern Munich, just 28 clear of Mbappé on 1,027. Yamal came third with 881. The margin between first and second was razor thin.

Read also

With Trump's help: Infantino accused of breaching American law and turning FIFA into private property

Mohamed Salah's uncle: Hossam Hassan swore at him and his teammates with foul language

Crowned at the ceremony in London on 26 October, Kane became the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001, and the fifth in England's history to manage the feat.

His coronation followed an exceptional campaign in front of goal. The striker scored 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich across all competitions.

Add in 12 goals for England and his total climbs to 73 in 65 matches for club and country.

Kane also drove Bayern to three domestic trophies in 2025-2026, reclaiming the league title and lifting the German Cup and the Super Cup. He struck 14 times in the Champions League too, despite the club's semi-final exit.

Mbappé enjoyed a strong season of his own with Real Madrid and France, pushing Kane closest of all for the award. He fell 28 points short in second. Yamal, meanwhile, underlined his standing among the game's biggest stars, taking third place and the world's best young player prize.

Third for the Spain international came a year after he finished runner-up behind France's Ousmane Dembélé, keeping him in the top three despite his tender age.

Mbappé is still chasing the first Ballon d'Or of his career. He came within touching distance in 2026, only for Kane to edge the race by the slimmest of margins.

Professional Summary

A multi-disciplinary Egyptian journalist dedicated to providing readers with comprehensive and accurate insights. I possess over 13 years of experience in print and broadcast media, having contributed to some of the largest newspapers, digital platforms, and TV channels in Egypt and the Arab world. Notably, since April 2017, I have served as a Shift Manager and Desk Editor at Kooora, the leading Arabic sports website, collaborating with a premier team of highly professional journalists.

I am passionate about crafting logical and accessible sports articles and analyses—avoiding unnecessary complexity—while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity. I firmly believe that personal bias has no place in journalism; information is a trust, and integrity is the supreme ethic of the media profession.

Personal Background & Football Philosophy

My journey with football began at the age of five, inspired by my family's passion during the 1994 World Cup. Since then, the sport has become an integral part of my life, both as a player and a spectator.

One of my most formative footballing memories is the historic 1999 UEFA Champions League final at Camp Nou. That night, Manchester United’s dramatic late comeback against Bayern Munich marked the beginning of my lifelong allegiance to the German giants, who still hold a prominent place in my heart.

Areas of Expertise

Leveraging extensive experience across various media sectors, I specialize in:

Football History: Extensive knowledge of European and German football history.

Tactical Analysis: Predicting match scenarios and tactical breakdowns.

Scouting: Identifying young talents and analyzing their technical potential.

Career Milestones & Highlights

Among many memorable sporting moments, the most significant remains Bayern Munich’s 2001 UEFA Champions League victory over Valencia—my first continental celebration with the club.

All-Time Favorite XI:

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer.

Defense: Alessandro Nesta, Sergio Ramos, Philipp Lahm, Paolo Maldini.

Midfield: Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Zinedine Zidane.

View Author Profile