Shearer: Kane deserves the Ballon d'Or; N'Goumouha is a phenomenal talent

Alan Shearer discussed the Ballon d'Or contenders in his personal column and assessed the recent performances of Newcastle and Liverpool.

Kane Deserves the Ballon d'Or

I will be presenting the Golden Boot award next Monday, and I’m really looking forward to it. I also hope an English player wins the Ballon d’Or, with Kane among the candidates. I know the two leading favorites are Yamal and Kane, but Mbappé and perhaps Rodri are also on the shortlist. It should be an exciting night.

My only concern for Kane is that, traditionally, in years with major international tournaments, the Ballon d'Or usually goes to a player who has won the World Cup or the European Championship. Kane hasn't won either, while Yamal has. However, given Kane's goal tally last season and his contributions to Bayern and the England national team, he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or.

If Kane wins, it would be great for English football. The last English player to win the Ballon d'Or was Michael Owen, wasn't it? It's been a long time since an English player last won it, partly because of the incredibly high standards set by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They were constantly competing and pushing each other.

If the captain wins the Ballon d'Or, it will be a huge honor for the England team and a remarkable achievement for Kane.

In 1996, I finished third in the Ballon d'Or and was the top scorer at the European Championship, where we reached the semi-finals. After that, I moved from Blackburn to Newcastle for a world-record transfer fee. Honestly, no one could have predicted who would win that night. I was deeply disappointed. I was so upset that I didn't attend any celebratory parties or the subsequent ceremony; I just left.

N'Goumouha Is a Phenomenal Talent

In the first thirty minutes against Villarreal, N'Goumouha was the only Liverpool player who played well. He was proactive, beat defenders with ease, and brought excitement every time he was on the ball. I could even hear the crowd cheering. Whenever he received possession, people expected him to beat the opposing full-back, and he was even better in the second half.

Some of his runs and his assist for Mac Allister were brilliant. I would keep playing N'Goumouha; I think he deserves to start.

Liverpool have such a talented player, and while I know he's only 18, giving young players the freedom to express themselves is incredibly valuable. I understand the pressure and what comes next: you have to play regularly, which is far from easy.

Liverpool Must Improve Their Defence

I watched the Champions League match at Anfield on Tuesday, and Liverpool's performance in the first 35 minutes was the worst I've ever seen. They made mistake after mistake, were 0-2 down against Villarreal, couldn't find passing lanes, and had a defense riddled with holes.

In the second half, they improved in every area, winning the ball back more quickly and tightening up their defense. There were still one or two defensive concerns, and Villarreal's late goal left Liverpool a little uneasy in the final three or four minutes.

Liverpool must strengthen their defense after conceding three goals in each of their last two Champions League matches. However, they have won three consecutive games in the competition, so their group-stage record remains strong, despite some tough fixtures ahead.

Liverpool's next match is a league game against Brighton. Given the current form and playing style of Hürzeler's team, Brighton will exploit Liverpool's weaknesses if the Reds continue to play as openly as they have.

Newcastle Must Secure a Good Result Away at Crystal Palace

Newcastle need to turn things around quickly, especially without European competition. I will say this countless times this season about many coaches and clubs: Sunday's match is crucial for Howe and Newcastle. They visit a Crystal Palace side who played in Turkey on Thursday night and are in poor form. Palace suffered a heavy defeat to Brighton last weekend, so Newcastle must secure a good result against them.

My concern about Newcastle is their lack of creativity and the absence of a player who can score 15 goals, break down opposing defenses, deliver brilliant crosses, or provide a killer pass. I saw none of those qualities in last weekend's match, which reinforced a concern I've had all season: we create too few chances. Newcastle's performances must improve. They have a week to prepare, so I believe they are working very hard to address these issues.