Ngumoha eyes Ballon d’Or after taking inspiration from Kane
Liverpool's 18-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha said the achievement can inspire a new generation of English footballers, including himself.
The recent announcement of the FIFPRO Men's World XI has sparked controversy following the omission of Harry Kane, the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. Kane, who plays as a striker for Bayern Munich, marked history by becoming the first Ballon d'Or winner to be excluded from the prestigious team in the same year he won the individual accolade. The exclusion occurred on Monday, leaving Kane's peers in surprise.
This marks a first in the 20-year history of the FIFPRO World XI, established in 2005. Every previous Ballon d'Or winner had found a place in the World XI in their year of triumph. Kane's omission is particularly noteworthy given his exceptional performance during the campaign. He scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for both England and Bayern Munich, cementing his position as one of the best players in the world.
Despite his stellar statistics, Kane was surpassed by Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Lionel Messi in the FIFPRO World XI selection. The decision to omit Kane is seen as a significant oversight, highlighting the complexities and subjectivity involved in choosing the World XI team.
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- Ballon d'Or: Harry Kane makes unwanted history with FIFPRO World XI snub dailypost.ng
- Ngumoha eyes Ballon d’Or after taking inspiration from Kane freemalaysiatoday.com
- Ngumoha has Ballon d'Or in his sights after taking inspiration from Kane's triumph channelnewsasia.com
