Declan Rice Backs Harry Kane for 2026 Ballon d'Or

After Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Napoli in their opening Champions League group game of the 2026/27 season, Declan Rice publicly endorsed fellow England international Harry Kane as his preferred candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Rice's comments came after he was recognized on the nominees list, marking consecutive years of nominations, which highlights his growing prominence in European football.

He specifically chose to support Kane, who has had an impressive run of form, scoring 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country, contributing to Bayern Munich's Bundesliga title and England's semi-final run at the World Cup. Rice's nomination is a testament to Arsenal's successful year, which has given several players a credible claim for the award, yet he made it clear that his personal support lies with Kane.