Kenya Sport

Luis Diaz Praises Harry Kane as Top Contender for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Luis Diaz, the Bayern Munich winger, has voiced strong support for his teammate Harry Kane to claim the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The Colombian highlighted Kane’s outstanding performances this season, especially after their recent DFB-Pokal victory.

Bayern Overcome Early Cup Scare

In their opening DFB-Pokal match, Bayern Munich faced a surprising challenge from second-tier Osnabrueck. The visitors fell behind within five minutes after Robin Meissner struck a stunning volley from 30 yards past goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. Despite this shock, Bayern quickly regained control. Kane equalized with a precise volley 13 minutes later, paving the way for a 4-1 win. Tom Bischof, Michael Olise, and a late penalty by Kane sealed Bayern's comfortable progress to round two.

Diaz Praises Kane's All-Around Game

"He’s the best in the world, without a doubt," Diaz told ESPN. "He proved it throughout last season and has been showing it for a long time. The truth is, he can do everything. I admire him a lot because I feel like he never does anything wrong."

Diaz further pointed out Kane's team-first attitude. "He makes his teammates play, he runs, defends, scores goals, and he can also score from long range," the former Liverpool player added.

A Record-Breaking Season

Kane’s claim to football’s top individual prize looks solid after an extraordinary season. He scored 73 goals and provided eight assists in just 65 games across club and country. This includes six goals at the 2026 World Cup, where England finished third. Kane's total ranks as the second-highest goal tally since 2000, only behind Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in the 2011-12 season.

"His mentality is incredible," Diaz said. "So, for me, he’s one of the main contenders to win the Ballon d’Or. I hope he can lift it and that we can all be happy for him."

Looking Ahead: Bundesliga Action

With Kane already scoring this season, Bayern Munich will try to build on their strong start. After back-to-back wins featuring nine goals, Vincent Kompany’s side faces newly promoted Schalke in the Bundesliga this Saturday. Bayern will aim to keep their attacking momentum before discovering their next opponent in the DFB-Pokal second round.

  • Match: Schalke 04 vs Bayern Munich
  • Date: 5 Sept 2026
  • Time: 18:30
  • Competition: Bundesliga
  • Previous DFB-Pokal Match: Osnabrueck 1-4 Bayern Munich
  • Date: 6 Sept 2026
  • Competition: DFB-Pokal

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