Cucurella would have given 2026 Ballon d’Or to Mbappe or Yamal

Mark Cucurella says Harry Kane deserved recognition for his outstanding numbers, but believes Kylian Mbappe or Lamine Yamal should have won the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

The Spanish defender, who plays for Real Madrid, said he could not describe Kane’s victory as unfair, while admitting he was surprised by the final result. Mbappe is his club team-mate and Yamal his Spain colleague.

Speaking to Spanish programme El Chiringuito, Cucurella was asked whether Kane’s success had been unjust.

“No, I cannot say it was unfair, because if you look at his numbers, they are figures he may not be able to repeat again,” he said. “In that respect, he had an exceptional season.”

Cucurella added: “But personally, I would have given it to Mbappe or Lamine Yamal because, in the end, they are the kind of players I turn on the television to watch as a football fan. Do you understand what I mean?

“It is not that Kane did not deserve the award, but I have to admit that I was a little surprised by the result.”

Kane’s triumph remains a subject of debate after a closely fought vote involving Mbappe and Yamal, who finished second and third respectively.

The Bayern Munich striker collected 1,055 points, just 28 more than Mbappe’s 1,027. Yamal was further back on 881 points, although the narrow margin between the leading pair highlighted how competitive the contest had been.

Kane received the award at a ceremony in London on 26 October, becoming the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. He was also the fifth player in England’s history to claim the prize.

The award followed a prolific campaign in which Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich in all competitions. He added 12 goals for England, taking his overall tally for club and country to 73 goals in 65 matches.

He also helped Bayern Munich win three domestic honours during the 2025-2026 season. The club reclaimed the league title and also lifted the German Cup and German Super Cup. Kane scored 14 goals in the Champions League, although Bayern Munich were eliminated in the semi-finals.

Mbappe enjoyed a strong season with Real Madrid and France and was Kane’s closest challenger, but finished 28 points behind the winner. He is still waiting for the first Ballon d’Or of his career after coming close in 2026.

Yamal, meanwhile, continued to establish himself among the leading players in world football. The Spain international finished third after placing second in the previous edition behind France’s Ousmane Dembele, and also won the award for the world’s best young player.