The race for the Ballon d’Or has long since moved beyond the soccer field. With just a few weeks to go before the presentation of the most prestigious individual award in world soccer, the top stars are also publicly staking their claims. Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, in particular, leave no doubt as to who they see as the winner: themselves.
Mbappé recently expressed his claim with remarkable confidence. “There isn’t a single player who had a better season than I did.”
Yamal, too, makes no secret of his ambitions. “I think I’d deserve the Ballon d’Or this year,” the Barcelona star explained.
Both are among the top contenders for the award and are certainly campaigning on their own behalf just a few weeks before the vote. The contrast with Harry Kane is striking.
The Bayern Munich striker is also among the candidates following his outstanding season, but has so far refrained from aggressively declaring himself the favorite.
Kane is leaving the decision up to the voters
While Mbappé and Yamal publicly highlight their own achievements, Kane strikes a much more reserved tone. “I’m proud to be nominated alongside my teammates, but it’s not up to me—it depends on the voters.”
No demands for the Ballon d’Or, no public statements about why he was better than his competitors. Instead, Kane points to the voting process and removes himself from the decision.
Yet the 33-year-old certainly has no reason to hide his achievements. Kane enjoyed his most successful season to date with FC Bayern, winning the domestic double with the Munich club and reaching the Champions League semifinals. Individually, the Englishman once again posted exceptional statistics, securing the European Golden Shoe with 36 Bundesliga goals.
Kane therefore certainly has the athletic credentials to campaign more aggressively for the award. His strategy, however, is clearly a different one.
The Ballon d’Or is also turning into a public campaign
At the same time, these differing statements show just how differently the stars approach the Ballon d’Or vote. Mbappé and Yamal use the public spotlight to clearly articulate their claims. Kane, on the other hand, lets his performance speak for itself.
It’s nearly impossible to measure whether this public self-promotion actually influences the voting in the end. The winners are selected by international journalists. However, public perception and debates inevitably shape the decision.
These are three global stars with the same goal—but with completely different strategies on the path to soccer’s most coveted individual award.