Instead, both Messi and Ronaldo had already won the award multiple times by the age of 33. Cristiano won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 (23 years old) and had already raised his total to five Ballon d’Ors by 33. That’s where Ronaldo still stands, as he is second in the all-time leaderboard. Considering Ronaldo wasn’t nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, there’s reason to believe that’s where CR7’s total will remain once he calls it a career.

As for Messi, he leads the way with his record eight Ballon d’Or wins. The Argentine won his first in 2009 at 22, and had six Ballon d’Or trophies by the age of 33. With his win in 2026, Kane has etched his name on the list of English players that have won the Ballon d’Or. Moreover, Kane is the third player to take home the award since Messi last won one in 2023.

Harry Kane’s resume to win 2026 Ballon d’Or

Even though Kane voiced his gratitude to Tottenham in his speech after winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, it’s plain to see that his move to Bayern Munich completely changed the trajectory of his career. Last season, Kane hoisted the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal trophies while also reaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals.

Kane’s England side also fell in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Still, his goals did all the talking. Kane scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern across all competitions, including 34 in the Bundesliga and 14 in the UEFA Champions League. During the World Cup, Kane scored six goals for the Three Lions, finishing tied for fifth among the tournament’s top scorers.

Kane beats Mbappe to 2026 Ballon d’Or

Although Kane finished behind Kylian Mbappe, who scored 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup and became the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer, he had the last laugh at the Palladium Theatre in London. Not just that, but Kane also won the 2026 Gerd Muller trophy during the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Even though Mbappe had previously reacted to the possibility of Kane winning the Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo Nazario’s announcement still came as a shock to the French national team and Real Madrid star. As incredible as it sounds, Mbappe has yet to win a Ballon d’Or.

2026 Ballon d’Or final podium

Prior to the ceremony, rumors ran wild as viral posts that accidentally appeared on the award’s official website may have leaked the 2026 Ballon d’Or podium. In the end, there was fire behind the smoke. Just as the leak hinted, Kane finished on top, with Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, who is still without a Ballon d’Or at 19, rounding out the top three.

• Harry Kane: 2026 Ballon d’Or winner
• Kylian Mbappe: Second place
• Lamine Yamal: Third place

Messi and Ronaldo’s Ballon d’Or wins

Key takeaways

• Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or at age 33 at the 70th ceremony.
• Lionel Messi had won Ballon d’Or six times at 33.
• Cristiano Ronaldo had five Ballon d’Ors by 33 years old.

In fact, Mbappe is clearly at peace with that possibility. As he said, “Harry Kane Ballon d’Or? It would be well deserved!“ Mbappe and Kane are two of the most likely players to join the list of Ballon d’Or winners in history.

An accidental leak of the 2026 Ballon d’Or podium went viral, and both of them are featured in the podium. Hence, there is a very real possibility that one of these two players gets the award.

Harry Kane key admission on Ballon d’Or

“Winning the Ballon d’Or has always been one of my dreams. Obviously, when I was 15 or 16, I would never have expected to achieve everything I have achieved… But, as I said, regardless of the result, this is already something very special for me personally and for the teams I’ve played for,” Harry Kane said.

Kane also said that he is “a little bit nervous” because when a player gets ready for a key game or final, he knows he can make an impact. Here, “It’s a very different situation. I’m here with my friends and family, and I know they’re nervous. I’m just trying to enjoy myself here in London.”

Kane vs Mbappe stats

Key takeaways

• Kylian Mbappe stated Harry Kane winning the Ballon d’Or would be well deserved.
• An accidental viral leak placed Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe on the podium.
• Harry Kane recorded 76 goals and 84 goal contributions across 68 games.

“Last World Cup for me? Seeing Messi playing at 39 years old makes me not think about that,” Kane said after a game in which Lionel Messi assisted twice in seven minutes to give Argentina the victory.

“It’s still too early to say. I take it year by year and see how I feel. I love playing for England. But of course, four years is a long time. Then again, you can see someone like Messi still performing at the highest level even at an older age. I honestly don’t know.“

Kane, who turns 33 later on July 28, would be 36 by the time the 2030 tournament arrives. If he continues to play at the peak level he displayed heading into the 2026 World Cup, there is a strong chance he could captain the Three Lions once again on the world stage.

England experiences a tactical nightmare in Atlanta

Despite protecting a 1-0 lead for thirty minutes, England failed to manage the closing stages properly, opening the door for Argentina to not only equalize but pull off a stunning late comeback. The defeat sends the South Americans through to a grand final showdown against Spain, leaving the English camp devastated.

Thomas Tuchel is facing intense scrutiny over his tactical decisions, though the manager has actively defended his substitutions and defensive shift. For the Three Lions supporters, the manager deployed an overly cautious defensive block that invited relentless pressure and allowed Argentina to attack continuously. England legend Wayne Rooney echoed those frustrations, publicly blaming Tuchel’s conservative approach for the late capitulation.

The bitterness of the exit was palpable at the final whistle, with broadcast cameras catching a furious Jude Bellingham slapping Argentina’s Valentín Barco during a heated post-match altercation. The European giants briefly had one foot in the final, but lightning strikes from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez completely rewrote the script.

Is England completely out of the 2026 World Cup?

While England’s dream of hoisting the ultimate trophy has evaporated, Tuchel’s squad still has one final fixture left on American soil. The Three Lions will square off against France in the third-place play-off, where a victory would secure their best tournament finish since their historic 1966 championship run.

Once the tournament wraps up this weekend, the English side will begin mapping out the cycle for the 2030 World Cup. It now appears certain that captain Harry Kane intends to remain at the center of that process, aiming to lead his country to glory in four years’ time.

After those comments, Kane offered a candid take on how the match slipped away for England once the reigning champions turned up the pressure. “After the goal, I don’t know if it was because they went on the attack with more players or because we couldn’t respond in individual duels, but they came at us wave after wave. The players blocked many shots, but in the end, it wasn’t enough,“ Kane admitted.

Now, major questions loom regarding Kane’s international future with the national team, especially with the next major FIFA cycle building toward the 2030 World Cup. Following this crushing exit, the English FA and squad will have to make serious adjustments to reset their sights on finally returning to a World Cup final for just the second time in their history.

England face criticism

Among the English legends weighing in on the defeat was Wayne Rooney, who didn’t hold back when analyzing the tactical decisions made by manager Thomas Tuchel during the high-stakes clash with Argentina.

Despite a gritty, fighting effort from the English squad, Argentina‘s quality ultimately won out. The victory officially sets up a dream 2026 World Cup final showdown between generational icon Lionel Messi and teenage phenom Lamine Yamal, with the date and venue now locked in.

How Tuchel responded to the post-match criticism

In the immediate aftermath of a high-profile tournament exit, the blame game inevitably begins, with pundits and fans pointing fingers at both the roster and the manager. Recognizing the brewing storm, Tuchel quickly defended his game plan against mounting criticism as England squandered yet another golden opportunity to end their decades-long championship drought.

With their focus now forced to shift to the tournament’s consolation bracket, England are set to square off against France in the third-place match. Despite only suffering a single defeat this entire tournament, the Three Lions will head into the offseason needing to deeply re-evaluate their overall performance and squad depth.

Messi has never lost a game with Ismail Elfath as referee, and England saw how the trend kept going after a late-minute comeback by Argentina. Harry Kane didn’t have much to do with that, as England’s strategy once they found their first goal wasn’t the best.

Kane is still at the peak of his powers, but four years are a long time to see if he can keep this level of play when he is 36. However, Kane admitted that Lionel Messi’s example could influence his decision for the 2030 World Cup.

Messi shining on the global stage at 39 could inspire others to do the same. Messi is a one-of-a-kind player, of course, but that said, Kane plays a key role for England. For the Three Lions, it would be a massive blow to try and replace Kane, as he is a generational talent. For now, Kane is gutted with England’s loss to Argentina.

Kane’s 2026 World Cup was top-tier

Harry Kane has put together another outstanding individual campaign at the 2026 World Cup, serving as the focal point of England’s march to the knockout rounds. Following England’s tough 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semifinals, Kane’s official tournament stats stand as follows:

England felt the World Cup final slip from their hands

The game was set up for England to go to the World Cup final. However, once they got the goal, Thomas Tuchel opted to sacrifice all attack and defend with plenty of numbers. That’s why Wayne Rooney blamed Tuchel for the loss. This basically sacrificed Kane’s talent and it proved to be a woeful decision, as Argentina started to attack with plenty of danger until it finally cracked England’s defense. Tuchel defended himself, but he’s facing plenty of criticism now.

France will now England in the official FIFA World Cup third-place match. The game is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at 5:00 p.m. ET at Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, played just 24 hours before the World Cup final, giving both teams one last chance to finish their campaign on a high note.

Both teams were eliminated in the semifinals after impressive tournament runs. France saw their hopes ended by Spain, while England’s campaign came to a close following a narrow 2-1 defeat against Argentina, setting up another high-profile European clash to conclude their World Cup journey.

Although neither side will compete for the trophy, the matchup still features some of the tournament’s biggest stars. Kylian Mbappe remains the leading scorer of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, while Kane has continued to lead England’s attack throughout the knockout stage, setting up an intriguing battle between two of the game’s elite forwards.

France and England set for one final World Cup battle

France entered the semifinals after an outstanding tournament under Didier Deschamps, while England reached the final four behind another strong campaign led by Thomas Tuchel. Both nations came within one victory of the World Cup final but will instead compete for a podium finish.

For France and England, this also represents the chance to finish their 2026 World Cup campaign on a positive note after falling just short of the championship match.

With Mbappe set to play in the third-place match, he could extend his scoring form at the 2026 World Cup. He was stopped by the Spanish defense, but he could enter the final game with some pent-up anger. As for Messi, he will go head to head with two elite scorers in Kane and Bellingham.

The winner will face Spain in the World Cup final. The losers will face Mbappe and France in the consolation match. Needless to say, the stakes are high for Messi, Kane, and Bellingham, both on a collective and individual level.

Leading goalscorers table

As it stands, Mbappe and Messi are tied at the top of the 2026 World Cup goalscoring chart with eight tallies each. Erling Haaland remains in third place with seven goals, although he can’t add any more tallies to his personal account.

As for Kane and Bellingham, the English duo have combined for 12 goals, with six each. They have two more games left, like Messi, so they could very well move ahead of Haaland in the standings—and why not even overtake Messi and Mbappe as well?

Who have they scored against?

Against Spain, Mbappe was held scoreless for the second time at the 2026 World Cup. This time, however, his team couldn’t push through. For the first time since 2014, France won’t be going to a World Cup final. Still, Mbappe put on a show for the ages. Mbappe scored against Senegal (brace), Iraq (brace), Sweden (brace), Paraguay, and Morocco. He had more two-goal games than scoreless outings at the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Messi has scored a hat trick against Algeria, a brace against Austria, and a goal against Jordan in the group stage. He followed that up with consecutive one-goal performances against Cape Verde and Egypt in the Round of 32 and Round of 16.

Lastly, Kane scored against Croatia (brace), Panama, DR Congo (brace), and Mexico, while Bellingham did not lose ground. Bellingham scored against Croatia, Panama, Mexico (brace), and Norway (brace).

Kane went to bat for teammate Jude Bellingham after the young star dismissed Tuchel’s ‘lucky’ assessment with a blunt, one word ‘whatever’ response, aiming to clear the air while calling out the media for trying to manufacture a locker room rift. “When you are playing a game like that and to be asked a question five minutes after the final whistle, and he didnt really know what the manager had said, what do you want Jude to say?“ Kane told ITV‘s Gabriel Clarke.

Kane continued: “It is easy to try and create this division. It seems like an English mentality, an English thing to do at these major tournaments.” The clinical striker, who leads the Three Lions in scoring at this 2026 World Cup, sent a definitive message to the press, demanding unity as the squad prepares for the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the English press has already shifted its focus to a new battleground, heavily criticizing the referee appointment for the semifinal matchup. The controversial selection has created a massive wave of speculation and conspiracy theories just days ahead of kickoff.

Three Lions roster shifts focus to monumental Argentina clash

While the media remained fixated on potential locker room friction, England players quickly pivoted the conversation toward the tactical challenges awaiting them against Argentina. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford led the charge, issuing a firm warning to his defense that hyper focusing solely on stopping Lionel Messi would be a fatal mistake given the depth of the South American giants.

Beyond tactical assignments, the coaching staff is sweating over the fitness and availability of midfield anchor Declan Rice. His presence on the pitch is considered absolutely vital to neutralizing Argentina’s transition game, but his status for the semifinal remains up in the air pending final medical clearances.

England vs Argentina: What lies ahead?

This blockbuster semifinal represents far more than a standard soccer match, it is a deeply personal rivalry forged through geopolitical conflict, historical wars, and some of the most controversial plays ever witnessed on a soccer pitch.

The immense stakes have drawn predictions from legendary figures across the sport, including Manchester United icon Paul Scholes, who weighed in heavily on who will survive the semifinal gauntlet.

Adding fuel to the fire, former England international Joe Cole boldly predicted a dominant Three Lions victory, claiming English pace will completely shut down Messi. However, executing that plan against the reigning world champions is a massive ask, especially with an inspired Messi generating global headlines ahead of his first career international fixture against the English side.

Both players have been key figures for their respective teams. Messi is not only Argentina’s top scorer but also one of the leading goalscorers of the tournament. Kane, meanwhile, is also England’s leading scorer and will look to continue finding the back of the net.

The head-to-head record between Argentina and England shows the history behind this rivalry, and this new edition of the derby will send one of these teams to the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium. The question remains which of the two superstars will have the greatest impact on the outcome of the match.

A goal-filled battle

Age appears to be just a number for these two players. Messi, at 39 years old, has scored eight goals, leading the tournament’s scoring chart alongside Kylian Mbappe, and still has two more matches to continue improving his numbers. Kane, 32, has found the net six times and remains one of England’s main attacking leaders.

Playing for the team

While goals may receive more attention, providing assists for teammates is equally important. Messi has recorded two assists in this tournament, surpassing Diego Armando Maradona to become the all-time leading assist provider in World Cup history.

Perhaps due to the position he usually plays, Harry Kane has fewer opportunities to provide assists. However, he still managed to register one in the tournament, setting up England’s second goal against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.

Elite physical condition

A long club season, combined with the extreme heat and humidity conditions, can be factors that cause veteran players to perform below expectations for their teams. Messi and Kane have proven otherwise.

The Argentine forward has played a total of 531 minutes for his team, including two matches that went into extra time (Cape Verde and Switzerland). He only started one match from the bench, against Jordan. Kane, meanwhile, has featured for a total of 564 minutes, only being substituted against Panama shortly before the end of that group-stage match.

A place in the Final

The 2026 World Cup semifinal bracket confirmed Argentina and England as the latest teams to join France and Spain among the qualified sides. Now, the focus turns to determining who will reach the final.

Messi has a positive record against European teams, but that will be put to the test when the ball gets rolling in Atlanta next Wednesday at 3 PM ET.

Haaland enters the match with seven goals, while Kane has scored six, placing both among the leading scorers at the 2026 World Cup. Their finishing ability has played a central role in guiding their nations to the final eight.

With the quarterfinals bracket set and a semifinal berth at stake, the spotlight will once again fall on two of the world’s premier strikers as Norway seek the biggest victory in their World Cup history and England look to continue their pursuit of a second world title.

How do Erling Haaland and Harry Kane compare beyond the goals?

Although both forwards have dominated in front of goal, they influence matches in very different ways. Haaland operates as a classic No. 9, using his pace, strength, and movement inside the penalty area to finish chances created by Norway’s midfield.

Kane, on the other hand, frequently drops deeper to connect England’s midfield and attack. In addition to scoring, the captain contributes to the buildup by creating space for teammates and distributing possession.

How Norway and England reached the quarterfinals

Norway, coached by Ståle Solbakken, are enjoying the best FIFA World Cup campaign in the nation’s history. After finishing second in Group I with wins over Iraq and Senegal, Norway defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 before stunning Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 16, with Haaland scoring twice after goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland saved an early penalty.

England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, topped their group after victories over Croatia and Panama and a draw with Ghana. The Three Lions then rallied to beat DR Congo 2-1 thanks to two late Kane goals before overcoming Mexico 3-2 despite playing nearly 40 minutes with 10 men following Jarell Quansah’s red card. Jude Bellingham scored twice in that victory, while Kane added the decisive penalty.

Per ESPN’s SportCenter, Ronaldo tied Messi with four penalty goals in World Cup history. Kane leads the list with five. All three players are still active and playing in the 2026 World Cup, which makes this race all the more enticing.

Portugal will face Spain in Dallas in the Round of 16, which will give Ronaldo another chance at equalizing Kane’s number. However, Kane and England have also locked their Round of 16 spot and will face Mexico. Argentina are yet to play in the Round of 32, but they’ll face Cape Verde.

Ronaldo’s penalties in the World Cup

Ronaldo is widely known as one of the most prolific penalty takers in the world. He can shoot it in many different ways, so he is one of the most unpredictable shooters for goalkeepers to face.

• 2006 vs. Iran (Group Stage): Scored past goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.
• 2018 vs. Spain (Group Stage): Scored past goalkeeper David de Gea.
• 2022 vs. Ghana (Group Stage): Scored past goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
• 2026 vs. Croatia (Round of 32): Scored past goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.

Have Messi and Kane scored penalties in 2026 World Cup?

Harry Kane scored a penalty in the 2026 World Cup, while Lionel Messi has not, though both had the chances to do so. Harry Kane scored his penalty against Croatia on June 17, 2026, during the group stage. After his initial attempt was saved, VAR ordered a retake for encroachment, and Kane successfully converted the second try.

Lionel Messi, on the other hand, missed his penalty kick against Austria in the 2026 tournament by sending it wide of the goal. As a result, he has not scored a penalty in this specific World Cup, even if he has taken penalties in this edition.