Harry Kane has officially been crowned the world’s best player, marking a historic achievement as the first English recipient of the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. Anything is possible’ – Kane wins Ballon d’Or.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker joins a distinguished list of only five Englishmen to ever win the prestigious award, alongside legends Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, and two-time winner Kevin Keegan. With Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) the others, the 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win in total.
Additionally, he stands among the select group of United Kingdom winners that includes Scotland’s Denis Law and Northern Ireland’s George Best. Denis Law of Scotland (1964) and Northern Ireland’s George Best (1968) are the other winners from the United Kingdom.
The forward’s recognition follows an exceptional season where he shattered Bayern Munich’s club scoring record. Kane netted 61 goals in 51 appearances for the German side, and when combined with his international duties, he tallied 73 goals and eight assists across 65 matches. This performance makes him the first Bayern player to claim the honor since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Reflecting on his journey, Kane expressed surprise at his own ascent. Speaking to Dazn, he noted that many, including himself at times, would not have predicted such a trajectory. He emphasized that his earlier career struggles, characterized by various ups and downs, fostered the self-belief and determination required to compete at the highest level. The England captain remarked that these challenges grounded him, pushing him to continuously improve regardless of his status as a superstar. And maybe even I wouldn’t have thought I’d be this far,” Kane told Dazn, not many people would have thought it. I think that grounded me even when I did make it at the highest level to keep improving and keep getting better.
Recognition for the achievement has come from high levels of leadership. England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his delight, describing the award as a huge honor for the player. Prince William also praised the former Tottenham Hotspur star, labeling him a remarkable player and a brilliant captain. To mark the occasion, Wembley Stadium’s iconic arches were illuminated in gold on Monday night.
Kane secured the title ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe, who finished second, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who placed third. The win is particularly noteworthy as it was achieved despite Kane not securing a major trophy last season, having faced exits in both the World Cup and Champions League semi-finals. He remains one of the few players in Europe’s top five leagues to achieve such a prolific scoring rate in a single season.
