“For me, like everyone in England, Harry deserved the Ballon d’Or.” Declan Rice said that in a press conference, and he did not stop there. He praised Harry Kane as a future winner too, then turned the focus back on his own output for Arsenal after Graeme Souness questioned how he is used.

Kane, Yamal and Rice's verdict

Rice's view was direct enough. He said Lamine Yamal is “an incredible player” and “going to win many Ballons d’Or”, but added that this time it was “only right” that Kane won it. That is his opinion, not a verdict on the award itself, but it does show where he placed the balance between the two.

Kane's current numbers help explain why Rice framed him that way. The England captain has 4 Bundesliga goals and 8 assists in 9 appearances, and a 7.78 rating backs up the idea that his Bayern Munich form has been about more than just finishing. Rice also said Kane dropped next to the centre-backs 20 to 30 times in Arsenal's match against Bayern Munich, which was part of his point about all-round work rather than a goals-only case.

Rice's answer to Souness

Rice's second message was about himself. He joined Arsenal from West Ham in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £105m, and he pushed back on Souness by pointing to the numbers he has produced from a deeper role. His line was simple: “My numbers since I joined Arsenal speak for themselves.”

He has 5 Premier League assists in 10 appearances this season, along with 827 league minutes already. The bigger point is that the output has come while he is being asked to do more than stand on the halfway line and recycle possession. Souness's criticism centred on how deep Rice sits, but Rice's reply is backed by the numbers and by Arsenal's use of him in advanced phases.

Rice said he hopes “a new contract will soon be on the horizon”, but the immediate takeaway is the one he made in public. Kane is his Ballon d’Or choice, Yamal is a future winner in his eyes, and Rice is not buying the idea that his own role has turned him into a passive midfielder.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →