Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has questioned Harry Kane’s emergence as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, insisting that the England captain’s performances in major matches deserve closer scrutiny.

Kane claimed football’s most prestigious individual award at Monday night’s ceremony in London, narrowly beating Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, while Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal finished third.

The Bayern Munich striker’s triumph represents another significant milestone in his career, having established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers.

However, according to the Metro, Nasri remains unconvinced that Kane deserved the award ahead of his closest rivals.

The former France international reportedly questioned the striker’s influence in high-profile encounters despite acknowledging his impressive goalscoring record.

What Nasri Said

The Frenchman told Canal+: “Harry Kane, Ballon d’Or…okay, the statistics made the difference.

“He’s a fantastic player with so many qualities. But he’s never been the player who carried his team somewhere or made his team win in the very big matches. There’s often a slight weakness. But he’s an extraordinary player.”

On whether he was excited by this year’s winner, Nasri said: “No, that’s an understatement.”

Kane’s victory was largely built on his remarkable consistency in front of goal for Bayern Munich and England, alongside his ability to contribute to attacking play beyond the traditional responsibilities of a centre-forward.

Unlike many conventional strikers, the former Tottenham Hotspur star frequently drops into midfield to create opportunities for teammates while maintaining his reputation as a clinical finisher.

His development into one of world football’s most complete forwards is particularly remarkable considering his early career struggles.

Before establishing himself at Tottenham, Kane endured loan spells at Millwall, Leicester City and Norwich City, where he showed little indication that he would eventually become a Ballon d’Or winner.

Nevertheless, the 33-year-old has gone on to establish himself among the game’s elite, with his goalscoring exploits helping him secure the biggest individual recognition of his career.