Thomas Muller Backs Michael Olise for 2026 Ballon dOr
Former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller believes Michael Olise has a better chance of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or than Harry Kane due to his creativity and flair. Kane scored 72 goals and provided 8 assists for club and country this season, while Olise contributed 24 goals and 33 assists.
Muller praised Kane’s importance but feels Olise’s style is more suited to Ballon d’Or voting.
In the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller has backed one of his former club's stars to claim football's most prestigious individual award. With the 2025/26 European season now over and attention shifting to the FIFA World Cup, Muller believes the contest could come down to Bayern teammates Harry Kane and Michael Olise. Muller praised Kane as the best striker in world football, highlighting his finishing ability and overall importance to Bayern Munich.
However, he feels Olise has an advantage when it comes to Ballon d'Or voting because of his creativity, flair, and ability to produce moments of magic on the field. The statistics of both players support their strong cases. Kane enjoyed an outstanding season, scoring 61 goals and providing 7 assists in 51 matches for Bayern. He also added 11 goals and 1 assist for England, taking his overall contribution to 72 goals and 8 assists. Olise also had a remarkable campaign, registering 22 goals and 31 assists in 52 appearances for Bayern.
The French winger further contributed 2 goals and 2 assists for France. Both players are expected to play key roles for their national teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which could heavily influence the final Ballon d'Or voting. While Kane and Olise remain strong contenders, performances at the World Cup may ultimately determine who lifts the award later this year.