Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has backed England captain Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, describing the Bayern Munich striker as the clear favourite following his impressive performance in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

Rice made the comments after Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich, praising Kane’s contribution to the encounter and his performances throughout the season.

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“For me, Harry is the clear winner of the Ballon d’Or 2026,” Rice told Football on TNT.

The Arsenal midfielder highlighted Kane’s ability to contribute beyond scoring goals, pointing to the striker’s assist and successful penalty during the match at the Allianz Arena.

“His numbers speak for themselves. For a striker to play that pass for their first goal then take the penalty how he did… he’s ridiculous, he’s such a good player, insane!” Rice said.

Kane played a decisive role as Bayern fought back to earn a point against the Premier League side, demonstrating the combination of creativity and finishing that has made him one of Europe’s leading forwards.

Rice also stressed that Kane’s quality becomes particularly clear to players who face him on the pitch.

“The year he’s had has been remarkable. He’s obviously up against some other world-class players but when you play with him, you realise how good he is and when you play against him, you see how much of a pain it is,” he added.

Kane’s individual performances have strengthened his case for football’s most prestigious individual award.

According to the report, he scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign and helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title.

He also featured for England at the World Cup, where the national team reportedly finished third.

However, Kane faces competition from other leading contenders, including Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé.

Rice’s endorsement adds to the discussion surrounding the award, although the final outcome will depend on the voting process rather than individual players’ predictions.