KEANE BACKS KANE FOR 2026 BALLON D'OR

Roy Keane has named Harry Kane as his choice to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, telling The Overlap's social media channel he would back the striker after his scoring return in the 2025-26 season. Kane finished the campaign with 73 goals in all competitions, including six at the World Cup, playing for Bayern Munich and England. Keane said a tally of that size was enough to justify his selection. The Ballon d'Or, awarded to the player judged best in the world over the past year, will be presented in London on 26 October. Keane's pick would make Kane the first English winner of the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Other pundits have put forward different contenders for this year's prize. Some have backed Lionel Messi, who could win a ninth Ballon d'Or, while others have pointed to Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win the World Cup at the age of 19. David Silva, the former Spain international, named Fabian Ruiz as his favourite, saying the Spain and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder deserves the award this year. The spread of nominations reflects the end of the period in which Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the award.

No winner has yet been confirmed, with the result due at the ceremony on 26 October. Voting and judging processes for the award have not been detailed in the available material. Pundits, including Keane and Silva, continue to offer public predictions ahead of the announcement. The ceremony will determine which of the suggested contenders, including Kane, Messi, Yamal and Ruiz, receives the award.