Former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United midfielder Chris Waddle believes England captain Harry Kane deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season for club and country.

Waddle, speaking to GOAL, argued that Kane’s individual performances should carry more weight than team trophies when determining the winner of football’s most prestigious individual award.

The former England international questioned why players are often judged by the number of trophies won by their teams, despite the Ballon d’Or being an individual honour.

“I’m sorry, but you judge players on a season, and Harry Kane’s had a phenomenal season for Bayern Munich and England,” Waddle said.

“Why is he not being awarded it? Because he didn’t win a trophy, which is a team game, not an individual as the Ballon d’Or is. I don’t get that.”

Waddle believes Kane’s consistency and goalscoring output make him the standout candidate for the award.

“The Ballon d’Or should always be the best player of the season. And Harry Kane, in my eyes, should lift it.”

Kane enjoyed another prolific campaign with Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title while scoring more than 70 goals for club and country.

The England captain also played a key role at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he helped his country reach the latter stages and finished with a bronze medal.

Kane’s performances have placed him among the leading contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or, although he faces strong competition from several other global stars.

Waddle’s endorsement adds further weight to the debate over whether individual brilliance or team success should have the greater influence on the final Ballon d’Or vote.