Harry Kane suffers unprecedented snub from 2026 World XI despite Ballon d'Or glory

Kane omitted from FIFPro World XI despite winning Ballon d'Or in October, the first time a Golden Ball winner has missed the team in the award's 21-year history.

Harry Kane has been left out of FIFPro's World XI despite his historic Ballon d'Or triumph just two weeks earlier. The Bayern Munich striker won football's most prestigious individual award in October, becoming the first Englishman to claim the Golden Ball in 25 years, but failed to secure enough votes in the FIFPro poll of over 19,000 professional players from 73 countries.

Kane received 27.6 per cent of the vote but was overlooked for the team's four-man attack, which instead featured Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi in a 3-3-4 formation.

The omission marks an unprecedented snub in the award's 21-year history—the first time a Ballon d'Or winner has been excluded from the World XI in the year they won the prize. England did have representation elsewhere, with Jude Bellingham selected in midfield alongside Rodri and Vitinha.

The defence comprised Pau Cubarsi, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, with Arsenal's David Raya named in goal. Other notable absentees included 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise.