Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has cited Harry Kane as a Ballon d’Or candidate after a “very, very good season” — but says the award will likely remain in the French capital.
Dembélé is the current holder of the award, which he won in 2025 after winning a historic European treble and scoring 33 goals in all competitions at the Parc des Princes.
Asked to name his top three candidates for the prize, the Frenchman named Kane alongside Paris teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and compatriot Kylian Mbappé, none of whom have ever won it.
But he said: “I don’t think this trophy is unpredictable. “I think it will remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player.”
The winger, who stressed his top three was in no particular order, acknowledged that he wouldn’t choose himself if given the opportunity.
“I never get into stuff like that. If I’m the one who speaks, I don’t vote for me,” he said.
Dembélé responded “I don’t think so” when asked if Lionel Messi would make his shortlist, but did say that Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Fabián Ruiz and Willian Pacho all had a case.
On Monday, Mbappé was not shy to put his name forward for the prize, saying: “When you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, you’re associated with these awards.”
“When people see me in the street, a lot of them talk to me about it … I made a lot of history this summer, in the most important competition. But there’s still a long way to go.”
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Kane, meanwhile, is seen by many as the favourite to take the vote and become the first English Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
“I’m extremely proud of the season I put up, for sure,” he said in an interview with TNT Sports.
“Not that long ago, I was that fan wanting to become a professional footballer and I am here now and winning awards and the Ballon d’Or is the same.”
The Bayern Munich striker added that his 2025-26 campaign was his “best by far” after scoring 61 goals in all competitions and captaining England to a third-placed finish at the World Cup.
The full list of nominees will be confirmed on Tuesday ahead of the ceremony on Oct. 26 in London.
