England midfielder Declan Rice has thrown his support behind captain Harry Kane in the Ballon d'Or conversation, insisting the striker is a more deserving recipient than Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal. Speaking ahead of the Three Lions' high-stakes Nations League clash with Spain, the Arsenal star praised Kane’s unprecedented goalscoring form and professional humility.
Rice backs Kane for individual glory
Getty ImagesAs England gear up for a decisive UEFA Nations League encounter against Spain at the Metropolitano, Declan Rice has not shied away from the inevitable comparisons between the world’s elite talents. Rice believes the Ballon d'Or belongs to his international captain. The midfielder highlighted Kane's remarkable output and influence on the pitch as the primary reasons why he should be considered the best in the world, even as the 19-year-old Yamal continues to capture the imagination of fans across the globe.
"I think in the case of Harry for me and for everyone, Harry deserved the Ballon d'Or. As he has performed, the goals he has scored and not only the goals, how he has played.... In Spain obviously they are going to say Lamine, at some point he will win it, but I think Harry is a fair winner," Rice told the media at a press conference. He further elaborated on the striker's character, adding: "It's incredible, the Ballon d'Or... imagine in the restaurant how we all were. He is super humble, it didn't seem like he has won the Ballon d'Or because he hardly talks about it. He is a legend of English football, we are very lucky."
Addressing racism concerns and stadium atmosphere
Beyond the individual debates, Rice addressed the social climate surrounding international fixtures in Spain, as he stated: "In the past I have experienced it, I remember once in Bulgaria the protocol was activated. We left the field. The coach has not told us anything about it, but I suppose he will comment on it. I don't expect anything like that tomorrow, this is a fantastic stadium. The players respect us a lot and we don't expect any incident of this type tomorrow."
Rice continued by expressing his hope that the focus remains on the pitch: "No, it doesn't worry me. The moment we are in now, in 2026, it is totally eradicated from football. We have a protocol in place and if it happened we know what we would do as a squad. I don't even want to think if there was a racist chant against one of our players or against one of the Spaniards. It's going to be a fantastic match, I rule out anything of this type."
The ultimate test against the European champions
Getty ImagesEngland travel to Madrid knowing that only a victory will suffice if they are to leapfrog Spain and secure the top spot in their Nations League group. "When you play against the best in the world like Yamal it is very special. You always want to play against the best, but we should not focus only on Lamine, they have good players who are very good. If we focus only on Lamine it would not be right. We know how good he is, facing him is going to be a litmus test," Rice admitted.
Looking ahead to the magnitude of the clash, he concluded: "I think they are two of the best in the world, that's for sure. If we look at the two teams, on paper we are two of the best, but we cannot forget France, Holland, Germany, etc. It is a spectacle that fans are going to love."
I began my journalism career in 2011, initially specializing in investigative reporting. This experience allowed me to explore different fields in depth, develop strong analytical skills, and build a solid foundation in journalism. Eventually, I decided to pursue my first passion: football. I went on to cover the Egyptian national teams across all age groups, while expanding my coverage to include the global game and its biggest stories.
My passion for football began on the pitch, where I played for the youth teams of several Egyptian clubs. That early experience shaped my understanding of the game and fueled my desire to follow football at every level. My journey as a fan of the global game dates back to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, alongside a deep-rooted interest in Egyptian domestic football. However, my connection with the game has never been limited to watching matches on television. I have consistently followed my favorite team, Zamalek, from the stands, experiencing the atmosphere, emotions, and intensity of Egyptian football firsthand. As one of the most successful clubs of the 20th century, Zamalek holds a special place in my football journey.
On the European stage, AC Milan has always been my favorite club, largely because of my admiration for legendary players such as George Weah, Paolo Maldini, Gennaro Gattuso, Kaká, Andrea Pirlo, Ronaldinho, and Clarence Seedorf. My appreciation for these football icons has also made watching historic El Clásico encounters between Real Madrid and Barcelona even more enjoyable, allowing me to appreciate the rivalry without taking sides in the endless debates between their supporters. Among all my football memories, one stands above the rest: AC Milan’s redemption against Liverpool in the 2007 UEFA Champions League final, when Filippo Inzaghi scored a historic brace to secure a memorable victory.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with two of the Middle East’s leading sports platforms, Kooora and GOAL.com. These experiences have given me extensive knowledge of both Arab and international football, while allowing me to develop my skills across different areas of sports journalism and digital content. In 2022, I was honored to become a member of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, marking an important milestone in my professional journey. In January 2026, I took another significant step in my career by transitioning to the English-language edition of GOAL.com, broadening my experience in international football journalism and English-language sports content while continuing to pursue my passion for telling the stories that make football the world's game.
