Müller snubs Kane, Yamal to name his Ballon d’Or favourites
Thomas Müller has surprised the Ballon d’Or debate by leaving out Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal while naming Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé as his two favourites for the prestigious award.
The former Germany international revealed his choices in his monthly newsletter, where he explained that the pair had impressed him most with their individual performances.
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“For me, there are two candidates who have thrilled me the most with their individual performances,” the 37-year-old wrote.
“And they are Michael Olise and his ideal World Cup partner Kylian Mbappe.”
Müller explains Olise and Mbappé choices
Müller’s selections differ from the names widely considered among the leading contenders, particularly Kane and Yamal.
Kane enjoyed an outstanding campaign with Bayern Munich, winning the domestic double and scoring 73 goals for club and country during the 2025/26 season.
Yamal also enjoyed a trophy-filled campaign, helping Barcelona win the Spanish La Liga before playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph.
However, Müller opted instead for Olise, who shared the Bundesliga and domestic cup success with Kane at Bayern, and Mbappé, who spent the campaign with Real Madrid and France.
“The two combine spectacle with a goal threat,” Müller said.
“In detail, they manage to be efficient with their finesse and power, while also making the whole thing look ultra-easy. To me, that is the material of a world player of the year. It simply needs a touch of magic.”
Olise and Mbappé face strong competition
Olise produced an impressive season at Bayern but finished well behind Kane in terms of goals, while Mbappé ended the campaign without a major club trophy at Real Madrid.
The two Frenchmen also saw their World Cup campaign end in the semi-finals, where France were eliminated by eventual champions Spain.
Müller, who now plays in MLS for the Vancouver Whitecaps, notably did not include his former Bayern teammate Kane among his two preferred candidates.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium Theatre in London, with selected journalists from around the world taking part in the voting process organised by France Football.