Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice says he would “love” for teammate Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Rice’s comments come after he is named on the award’s 30-player shortlist for the 2026 edition, announced ahead of the official voting results.
Both outlets report that Rice, an England midfielder, is publicly backing Kane despite Rice himself being among the nominees. The Daily Post Nigeria frames Rice’s stance as a “preferred” choice, while Yahoo Sports focuses more directly on the quote and the nature of his support. Beyond that, the reports provide similar context: the Ballon d’Or shortlist includes Rice for the second consecutive year, and Kane is positioned as Rice’s choice to win.
The differing angles are mainly emphasis on Rice’s preference versus the highlight of the quote. Neither outlet disputes Rice’s status as a nominee or the fact that Kane is the player Rice wants to see take the award.
