According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has congratulated Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane following his reported victory at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, describing the England captain as a great player who deserves the honour.

Mbappé finished second in the prestigious individual award, marking his highest-ever position in the rankings, while Barcelona and Spain youngster Lamine Yamal came third.

Although he missed out on the trophy, the French forward acknowledged Kane’s achievement and praised his quality after the winner was announced.

Speaking to Athlon Sports after the ceremony, Mbappé said: “He deserves it; he’s a great player. People came to see great players, and he’s one of them.”

The comments followed a closely contested race between Kane and Mbappé, with both forwards attracting significant attention for their performances throughout the season.

Vincent Garcia, editor of France Football, which organises the Ballon d’Or, reportedly revealed that the difference between the two leading contenders was exceptionally small.

According to Garcia, the margin was narrower than the 41-point gap between Rodri and Vinícius Júnior in the 2024 edition of the award.

Mbappé had reportedly led the race for a considerable period before Kane strengthened his position towards the end of the voting process.

Following the announcement, Mbappé was among the first players to congratulate the Bayern Munich striker before Kane went on stage to receive the honour.

The Real Madrid forward entered the ceremony after another productive campaign, delivering impressive goalscoring performances in domestic and European competitions.

Mbappé reportedly finished as La Liga’s leading scorer with 25 goals and topped the UEFA Champions League scoring charts with 15 goals.

Reports surrounding the award also credited him with 10 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite his individual achievements, Mbappé’s campaign was overshadowed by Real Madrid’s failure to win major trophies, while France also fell short of lifting the World Cup.

The lack of major silverware may have influenced the overall assessment of his season, although the exact factors behind the voting decisions will become clearer when the full results are released.

Before the ceremony, Mbappé had also revealed that he had not prepared an acceptance speech, explaining that he believed making such preparations in advance could invite misfortune.

His decision reflected the uncertainty surrounding the contest, particularly given the strength of the competition.

Kane’s reported victory marks a major milestone for the 33-year-old striker, who has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.

The England captain reportedly scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and the national team during the campaign, helping the German club win both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.

His consistent goalscoring record and contribution to Bayern’s domestic success strengthened his position in the race for football’s most prestigious individual award.

Kane’s triumph also makes him the first English player to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen claimed the award in 2001.