Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has questioned whether Harry Kane truly deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite the England captain’s incredible season.
Kane was crowned the world’s best player after scoring an astonishing 73 goals for club and country last season and helping Bayern Munich secure a domestic double. He beat Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal to claim the prestigious award.
However, Nasri believes Kane has one major weakness that separates him from other elite players: his performances in the biggest matches.
Speaking on Canal+, the former French international praised Kane’s quality but argued that he had not consistently been the player to carry his team to victory in crucial encounters. Nasri admitted that Kane’s statistics played a significant role in his triumph, while still describing him as an extraordinary footballer.
😮 BUT DID NASRI GET IT RIGHT?
Kane’s performances last season appear to challenge that criticism. He scored a hat-trick in Bayern’s 3-0 German Cup final victory over Stuttgart and played a decisive role against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.
He also contributed goals and assists during Bayern’s thrilling semi-final battle with Paris Saint-Germain.
For England, Kane produced crucial late goals against DR Congo, although he failed to score in the quarter-final against Norway and the semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry had nothing but praise for Kane, describing him as a worthy winner and highlighting the hard work and struggles he endured to reach the top.
🔥 DO YOU AGREE WITH SAMIR NASRI, OR DID HARRY KANE FULLY DESERVE THE 2026 BALLON D’OR? 👇
