Former French representative Emmanuel Petit has expressed skepticism regarding Harry Kane’s prospects for winning the Ballon d’Or, asserting that the English striker did not significantly influence the outcomes of the tournament’s most critical matches. During the 2026 World Cup, England ultimately secured third place, following a semi-final loss to Argentina. The squad rebounded to defeat the French team in the third-place playoff with a decisive 6-4 victory.
Throughout the competition, Kane registered six goals, with his final goal coming during the round of 16 victory over Mexico. Prior to the World Cup, the 32-year-old striker had enjoyed a strong campaign with Bayern Munich, tallying 61 goals across all competitions. Cumulatively, from August 2025 through January 2026, his goal-scoring record for both his club and the national team stood at 73 goals in 65 matches.
Despite these impressive statistics across numerous matches, Petit questioned whether this output was sufficient to secure the award. His critique focused specifically on the perceived gap between Kane’s overall season performance and his measurable impact during the high-stakes moments of the global tournament, particularly when compared to the performances of other elite players.
Topics: #kane #matches #french
