Guti questions Harry Kane’s 2026 Ballon d’Or win with ‘coincidence’ jibe

Former Real Madrid midfielder Guti has cast doubt on Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or victory, sarcastically suggesting the England striker’s success had been decided in advance.

Speaking on the Spanish television programme El Chiringuito de Jugones, Guti focused on the fact that the award had gone to a London-born player while Kane was also a Londoner. He implied that the location of the ceremony and the winner’s background made the result suspicious.

“The Ballon d’Or has gone to London, and it has been won by someone from London. What a coincidence, isn’t it? It’s a real coincidence!” Guti said sarcastically.

“This was written from the beginning, without a doubt.”

Kane’s victory has prompted differing reactions in Spain, where there had been competing views over who should receive football’s most prominent individual prize.

Guti also questioned Kane’s reaction when the result was announced. The former Real Madrid player said the striker’s facial expression suggested he had not expected to win the award.

According to Guti, Kane appeared to believe Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe would finish ahead of him in the Ballon d’Or race.

The debate over the result comes after some observers in Spain had favoured a player who had won the World Cup during the summer. Some Real Madrid supporters had also hoped Mbappe would claim the award instead of Kane.

Guti’s comments therefore challenged both the circumstances surrounding Kane’s success and the outcome itself, reflecting the wider disagreement over which player deserved the individual honour.