The Albany Gazette - Kane primed to pip Yamal, Mbappe to Ballon d'Or glory

The 70th edition of the award, established by the magazine France Football, will be hosted in England for the first time in recognition of the first winner Stanley Matthews and fittingly could have a first English winner for 25 years.

Bayern Munich striker Kane struck a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, leading the German giants to a league and cup double and England to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

"I'd love to be able to achieve something like that. I would be a massive milestone in my career," said the 33-year-old.

But semi-final exits in both the Champions League and World Cup for Kane means the outcome is far from certain.

"I think my wife would prefer to know and my family … it’s very stressful for everyone," he added.

"I can see why they don't tell people. They want everyone to go, all the big names, and there will be more people watching it if they don't know."

- 'I deserve it' -

Yamal finished second to Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele last year and the 19-year-old Barcelona superstar seems destined to be a Ballon d'Or winner one day.

However, after a hamstring injury ended his club season early, he was far from the shining light of Spain's World Cup triumph that was built on being the best collective unit.

Yamal was pipped to both the player and young player of the tournament by his Barcelona team-mates Rodri and Pau Cubarsi.

That has not diminished his bullish confidence ahead of the ceremony.

"For me, Mbappe and me, we're the two best players in the world," Yamal said last month.

"I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I've won."

Mbappe, by contrast, boasts plenty of personal milestones without medals for either Real Madrid or France.

The 27-year-old was top goalscorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup without winning any of those trophies.

His 10 World Cup goals made him the top goalscorer in the competition's history on 22.

"Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out," said Mbappe.

"Who am I voting for? Myself."

One football journalist from each of the 100 top nations in FIFA's rankings is invited to cast votes for their top 10 players from a 30-man shortlist, allocating a maximum of 15 points down to one based on their ranking.

The Ballon d'Or goes to the player who accrued the most points.

Although the award carries no cash prize, it can generate huge bonuses from clubs and commercial partners as well as increasing a player's overall marketing value.

Alexia Putellas is the frontrunner to win the women's award for the third time with Aitana Bonmati's three-year reign to come to an end after an injury-hit year.

Putellas, winner in 2021 and 2022, was part of the Barcelona side that regained the Champions League last season before moving to London City Lionesses.

Her former club team-mate, Poland's Ewa Pajor is the main challenger to Putellas after she netted 11 Champions League goals in Barca's latest triumph.

(O.Robinson--TAG)