Bundesliga Stars Overlooked Again
Bundesliga stars: Franck Ribery, Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski, and now Harry Kane—have once again found themselves overlooked in the Ballon d’Or rankings, raising questions about deep-seated biases in football’s most prestigious individual award.
Ousmane Dembele: A Deserved Winner, but Kane’s Baffling Rank
Ousmane Dembele rightfully claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or after driving Paris Saint-Germain to a Champions League title. Yet, Harry Kane’s shockingly low 13th-place finish—despite an extraordinary, title-winning season for Bayern Munich, has left many football fans, especially those in Germany, questioning the criteria of the voters.
This echoes past disappointments for Bayern players like Lewandowski and Ribery, who experienced similar Ballon d’Or injustices.
The Kane Conundrum: 55 Goal Contributions, 13th Place
Kane’s debut season at Bayern Munich in 2024/25 was nothing short of spectacular. Known for his prowess at Tottenham Hotspur, Kane not only met but frequently exceeded expectations in Germany.
His 41 goals and 14 assists, totaling 55 goal contributions—stood among the best in world football. Yet, his 13th-place Ballon d’Or ranking was baffling, especially compared to players with far fewer goal involvements.
Ballon d’Or Robbery? Echoes of Lewandowski
Fan outrage at Kane’s ranking mirrors that which followed Lewandowski’s Ballon d’Or snubs. Kane’s omission from the top ten—despite being one of the world’s most effective attackers—feels like a direct continuation of the narrative that hurt Lewandowski in previous years.
Such outcomes undermine the credibility of the award and highlight an apparent disregard for Bundesliga excellence.
The 2020 Cancellation: Lewandowski’s Lost Year
Lewandowski’s 2019/20 season stands as one of football’s greatest individual campaigns. Helping Bayern win a historic sextuple, Lewandowski was a clear Ballon d’Or favorite—yet the award was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This deprived him not only of personal recognition but also called into question the consistency of the award’s administration.
The 2021 Setback: Messi over Lewandowski
When the Ballon d’Or returned in 2021, Lewandowski once again missed out, with Lionel Messi winning thanks to his Copa America heroics. Despite better per-game stats (1.41 goal contributions per game), Lewandowski was denied, further fueling claims of a Bundesliga bias.
Bundesliga Is Underrated and Overlooked
The repeated snubbing of Bundesliga stars like Lewandowski and Kane prompts a clear conclusion: even historic performances in Germany are not enough for Ballon d’Or glory. Had similar feats been achieved in La Liga or the Premier League, universal acclaim would surely have followed.
The issue isn’t a lack of talent or achievement in Germany, but a reluctance among voters to endorse the “Bundesliga Brand”.
Kane’s Hot Start in the New Campaign
As of the 2025–26 season, Kane is off to an electrifying start, with 17 goals and 3 assists in 12 matches for club and country. Whether such form will be enough to finally land him on the Ballon d’Or podium remains in doubt. For now, it appears France Football’s attention is drawn more readily to figures like Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembele—even when Bundesliga brilliance outshines the rest.
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