Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or chances 'over' as Emmanuel Petit comments on England and Bayern Munich star after World Cup heartbreak - 'He disappeared'

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Emmanuel Petit has dismissed Harry Kane's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, insisting the England captain "disappeared" when it mattered most for both club and country. Kane is as one of the favourites for this year's award after producing the most prolific goalscoring campaign of his career.

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Petit, however, believes the striker's failure to leave a defining mark in the UEFA Champions League and 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages has left others better placed to claim the Ballon d'Or.

The World Cup winner with France in 1998 said that Kane's hopes of becoming the first Englishman since Michael Owen to claim football's most prestigious individual prize have effectively ended despite another extraordinary goalscoring campaign.

Kane finished the World Cup with six goals having found the net 36 times in the Bundesliga and on 14 occasions in the Champions League.

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Speaking to Mr Gamble, former Arsenal midfielder Petit said: "Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or chances are over. If you base that only on the German league, okay, no problem at all.

"But in the Champions League and with the national team, when it started to be really hard to win, I think he disappeared.

"I can't point the finger at him because he tried everything he could and he scored many goals, but he didn't have an impact in the big games, just like in the Champions League. So I think there are a few names ahead of him."

Emmanuel Petit has dismissed Kane's Ballon d'Or chances

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Petit believes Kane's prolific numbers will not outweigh his lack of decisive performances during the biggest matches of the season.

While the Bayern Munich striker won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, and finished as Europe's Golden Shoe winner, Bayern fell to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals before England were knocked out by Argentina in the last four of the World Cup.

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Kane was unable to inspire Thomas Tuchel's side as Argentina fought back to claim a 2-1 victory and end The Three Lions' hopes of reaching the final.

Asked who had moved ahead of Kane in the Ballon d'Or race, Petit pointed to Spain's World Cup-winning stars Rodri and Lamine Yamal, while also praising Lionel Messi's tournament.

Petit said: "Yamal? He had a great World Cup. You know the rules for the Ballon d'Or have changed so much, just like the rules on the pitch. Rodri has been the best player again during this competition. Messi had a great competition, but he plays for Miami."

Petit said the race remains open but argued that World Cup success should carry significant weight in the voting process.

"I know the World Cup is above any title you want with your club," he added. "But in the meantime, you have to win the title. Is it going to be a Spanish player? I have no idea. But it's going to be tough. And in the end, I hope it won't be a commercial decision."

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