Samir Nasri says Harry Kane did not deserve to win the Ballon d’Or because the Bayern Munich striker has not consistently made the difference in the biggest matches.
Kane received the award at a ceremony in London on Monday, becoming the first English player to win the prize in 25 years. He finished ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal in the voting.
The England captain scored 73 goals for club and country last season, helping Bayern Munich secure a domestic double and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. He also played a significant role as England progressed to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Despite widespread praise for Kane’s achievement, former Manchester City and France midfielder Nasri offered a sharply different assessment during an appearance on Canal Plus.
“Harry Kane wins the Ballon d’Or… well, the statistics made the difference,” Nasri said. “He is a great player with many qualities, but he has never been the player who takes his team further or leads them to victory in the really big matches. There is always a slight weakness, but he is an exceptional player.”
Asked whether Kane’s victory had failed to excite him, Nasri replied: “No, that is an understatement compared with what I feel!”
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich last season, the highest total by any player in a single season in the club’s history. Including his goals for England, he finished the campaign with 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches.
However, Bayern Munich were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals. England also exited at the same stage of the World Cup after losing to Argentina.
Kane’s individual performances were nevertheless recognised by Thierry Henry, who was among the presenters at the ceremony. The France great congratulated Kane after he finished above Mbappe in the Ballon d’Or race.
“I would always support my fellow Frenchmen, but I have to say something about Harry Kane,” Henry said. “I have followed him from the beginning, and he had to suffer a lot and endure great hardship to achieve what he has achieved. He is a deserved winner, and I congratulate him.”
