Thomas Müller Snubs Kane With Ballon d'Or Picks

Thomas Müller has named Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé as his two favourites for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, surprisingly leaving out his former Bayern Munich teammate Harry Kane.

Müller revealed his choices in his latest newsletter, where he explained that Olise and Mbappé were the two players whose individual performances impressed him most.

“For me, there are two candidates who have thrilled me most with their individual performances, and they are Michael Olise and his ideal partner at the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé,” Müller said.

The former Germany international was particularly impressed by the attacking qualities of the two France internationals.

According to Müller, Olise and Mbappé combine spectacular football with a constant threat in front of goal. He also praised their ability to use finesse and power while making difficult actions appear effortless.

“To me, that is the stuff of a World Player of the Year. It simply needs a touch of magic,” he added.

Müller's selection is likely to attract attention because Kane, his former Bayern teammate, is among the leading names in the Ballon d'Or discussion. The England striker was also left out of Müller's top two despite his strong 2025/26 campaign.

Olise, meanwhile, enjoyed a successful season with Bayern and won the domestic double. Mbappé also produced impressive individual numbers for Real Madrid despite the Spanish club failing to win a major trophy last season.

Müller also did not include Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, another prominent name in the Ballon d'Or conversation.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be presented in London on October 26, with the winner set to be decided by an international panel of journalists.

Do you agree with Müller's choices, or should Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal have made his top two?