Roy Makaay and Frank Verlaat assess Harry Kane for Ballon d'Or

Former Bayern Munich forward Roy Makaay has identified Harry Kane as a primary contender for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a season featuring 61 goals in 51 appearances for the club. Makaay, currently the head coach of the FC Bayern World Squad, emphasized the importance of club-level support for such individual accolades. Despite these credentials, former VfB Stuttgart defender Frank Verlaat noted that Kane's lack of a major trophy, such as the Champions League or the World Cup, could affect his candidacy. Verlaat pointed to Spanish midfielder Rodri as a significant rival for the award, citing his success in the World Cup. Makaay and Verlaat discussed these prospects during a promotional event in Amsterdam surrounding Bayern Munich's 5-1 Bundesliga opening victory against VfB Stuttgart. The winner of the Ballon d'Or is scheduled to be announced this October.

• 2:00 PMYahoo Sports — EXCLUSIVE: Bayern legend Roy Makaay backs Kane as Ballon d'Or contender