Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, but Jose Felix Diaz, the only Spanish journalist involved in the voting, said the England striker was not his choice for the award.
Diaz, editor-in-chief of AS, discussed his ballot during an appearance on the El Larguero programme on Cadena SER, revealing that he had expected either Mbappe or Yamal to win.
“I expected Mbappe or Lamine Yamal because Harry Kane is missing something,” Diaz said. “Of the 10 players I voted for, nine were among the top 10.”
Diaz did not explain whether Mbappe or Yamal was his preferred candidate. His comments suggested that Kane’s lack of a particular achievement had influenced his decision, with the 2026 World Cup potentially a key factor in selecting Yamal.
The outcome has revived debate over the importance of international success in the Ballon d’Or voting. Spain won the 2010 World Cup, but Lionel Messi collected the award that year, while Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez both members of the victorious Spain side finished second and third respectively.
Spain’s triumph at the 2026 World Cup also failed to produce a Spanish winner. Diaz said four of the players on his shortlist came from Spain, but the votes for the country’s world champions were divided.
“The votes for the world champions were spread around, and no Spanish player stood out individually at the World Cup, which became an obstacle,” he said.
“The success at the World Cup should have been reflected more strongly, but Luis de la Fuente and Unai Simon were the faces of Spanish football. Both were among the winners at the 2026 World Cup and received recognition.”
The discussion also drew comparisons with Robert Lewandowski’s failure to win the 2021 Ballon d’Or. The Bayern Munich striker was widely regarded as deserving the award, but Messi won it in a decision that generated controversy and cast a shadow over one of the Argentine’s titles.
Kane was described as facing a similar situation in 2026 against Barcelona forward Yamal, who benefited from a strong media campaign. The assessment was that Kane had been the best player in his position, dominated in Germany and made a significant impact in the Champions League and at the World Cup.
The 2026 award was considered one of the most open and uncertain in recent years, with several credible contenders. Mbappe, Kane and Yamal occupied the leading positions, and each had a case for winning.
For Diaz, however, Kane was the least deserving of the three. He did not question the striker’s place among the finalists, but disagreed with the final choice despite taking part in the vote. Individual voting details will not be released until next Saturday.
