German football legend Thomas Müller has backed Michael Olise to win the Ballon d'Or award ahead of Harry Kane. Müller believes the French winger's artistic playing style and dribbling ability give him a stronger claim for the prestigious individual award compared to Kane.
Speaking to SportBild, the former Bayern Munich forward said Olise may have the edge in the race. "With his finishing and attacking qualities, Harry is the best striker I currently see. He's got a wide range of qualities, but he's not a player who can dribble past four people," he said.
"As far as the Ballon d'Or is concerned, the 'artistic element' is taken into account. Generally, I see Harry as the more important player, but when it comes to the vote for the World's Best Player, it's more for players like Michael, with this dance-like, artistic, ease and magic quality you can't learn. Michael is a player who delivers, a performer."
England captain Harry Kane is currently among the bookmakers' favourites after scoring 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season. Despite his outstanding form, Olise was named Bundesliga Player of the Year. The French winger recorded 15 goals and 19 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances, helping Bayern also win the DFB-Pokal and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Each player's performances at the upcoming World Cup are expected to play a key role in determining the Ballon d'Or winner. Olise joined Bayern from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024 for £50 million. He had previously been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City before ultimately making the move to Germany.
