Michael Olise gave the shortest possible answer.

“Because he was the best player last season.”

The Bayern Munich winger, on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist in his own right, was on camera for a club Instagram video in which Bayern’s other shortlisted contenders, Luis Díaz and Dayot Upamecano, joined him in arguing that Kane should walk away with the trophy in London. Díaz said Kane “does everything.” Joshua Kimmich called him “a truly great team player.”

The clip landed just as Thierry Henry, on CBS Sports’ Golazo panel, was working through his own pick, and Henry’s answer was not Kane.

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Henry ranks Kane below Olise

“I would personally go with him,” Henry said of Kylian Mbappé on CBS Sports’ Golazo show, with Olise “close.”

The Arsenal legend built his case on the Real Madrid forward’s individual tally: top scorer in the Champions League, in La Liga and at the World Cup. On the Bundesliga race, Henry told viewers “the best player in Germany last season was Michael Olise”, ranking Kane below the very teammate who has just told Bayern’s cameras the opposite.

Henry conceded the vote is harder than usual, adding that “people will tell me he didn’t win anything, but I think that’s happened before” when weighing Mbappé’s case despite Real Madrid’s blank trophy year.

Kane’s third scoring crown in a row

Kane ended the 2025-26 Bundesliga on 36 goals from 31 appearances, taking the Torjägerkanone for a third straight season. He is the first player in Bundesliga history to win the scoring crown in each of his first three campaigns with a club, moving him to 98 goals in 94 top-flight games in Germany.

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Olise’s numbers are why Henry rated him so close: 15 Bundesliga goals and 19 assists for Vincent Kompany’s Bayern. His answer on the Bayern clip disagreed with his own advocate.

70th Ballon d’Or moves to London

The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be handed out at the London Palladium on Monday 26 October, the first time the gala has left Paris and marking the 70th edition of the award. Ousmane Dembélé, who won the 2025 trophy at the Théâtre du Châtelet last September ahead of Lamine Yamal, defends his title on a shortlist that also includes Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Rodri.

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