Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘He fully deserved it’ – Pickford on award winner

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has expressed his belief that teammate Harry Kane deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Kane was one of 30 players shortlisted for the prestigious award this year. The England captain will face competition from notable players such as Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe. Pickford stated, "I would love nothing more than to see him lift the Ballon d’Or.

I think it would be a credit to him and his family and all the work they have done." He added, "It will be great for Harry if he gets it. It could be a great couple of months for the skipper, and it’s fully deserved. Hard work pays off, that’s the message." Kane's impressive performance last season, with 73 goals for club and country, including winning the Bundesliga title and the European Golden Shoe, underscores his strong claim for the award.