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Journalist apologizes to Kane after Ballon d'Or voting error

goal.com — October 28, 2026 at 04:01 PM UTC

A Croatian journalist has publicly admitted to a voting error in the 2026 Ballon d'Or, apologizing to winner Harry Kane after ranking him sixth on his ballot. The admission has sparked debate over the award's credibility. In a statement, journalist Reic acknowledged his mistake, saying he placed Kane behind Ferran Torres and Kylian Mbappe due to overemphasizing World Cup performances over club form. He cited Rodri's tournament triumph and national team brilliance as shaping his choices. Reic noted Kane scored six goals and assisted once at the World Cup, leading England to the semi-finals, while he felt Lamine Yamal played a marginal role in Spain's win. He defended ranking Haaland second due to his national team impact.

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