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According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé has expressed his admiration for Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane following the England international's victory at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The French forward narrowly missed out on winning the prestigious individual honour after finishing second in the final rankings, while Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal occupied third position.
Despite the disappointment of failing to claim the award, Mbappé demonstrated sportsmanship by acknowledging Kane's outstanding qualities and congratulating him on his success.
During an interview with Athlon Sports, the Real Madrid attacker spoke positively about the England captain and insisted that his achievement was well deserved.
“He deserves it; he's a great player. People came to see great players, and he's one of them,” Mbappé said.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or result came after an exceptional individual season for Mbappé, who delivered impressive performances for both Real Madrid and the French national team.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward reportedly finished the Spanish La Liga campaign with 25 goals, earning recognition as the competition's highest goalscorer.
His remarkable attacking performances also extended to European football, where he registered 15 goals in the UEFA Champions League to finish at the top of the tournament's scoring standings.
On the international stage, Mbappé continued his impressive goalscoring form during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reportedly scoring 10 times and increasing his overall World Cup tally to 22 goals.
However, those individual achievements were insufficient to secure the Ballon d'Or, with Real Madrid's failure to capture a major trophy and France's unsuccessful World Cup campaign potentially affecting his chances.
Interestingly, Mbappé had revealed before the award presentation that he deliberately avoided preparing a victory speech because of his personal belief that doing so might bring bad luck.
Following the announcement of Kane as the winner, the French international reportedly approached the Bayern Munich forward to offer his congratulations before the England striker proceeded to receive his award.
Mbappé had entered the ceremony following another impressive display for Real Madrid against Barcelona, scoring twice as his team reportedly secured a 2-1 victory in El Clasico.
Although the French superstar was unable to claim the biggest individual prize in football, his response to Kane's triumph attracted attention for the respect he showed towards his fellow attacker.
The outcome has also generated discussions among football supporters, with many comparing the achievements of both forwards throughout the season.
For Mbappé, finishing second represents another significant milestone in his career, while Kane's victory marks a memorable achievement for the Bayern Munich and England striker.