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Bayern Munich star Harry Kane believes he will be a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or if he leads England to the World Cup.
After a spectacular season in which he scored 61 goals across all competitions, the prolific striker is fully confident that lifting the ultimate international trophy will strengthen his claim for the sport’s highest individual prize.
Kane reflects on a spectacular individual campaign
Kane has enjoyed arguably the biggest promotion of his entire career as he approaches his 33rd birthday.
The prolific striker finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 goals in just 31 games. Furthermore, he successfully won the European Golden Shoe for the second time in three years and secured three collective trophies.
Bayern Munich have undoubtedly benefited from his incredible performances this term.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe, the striker opened up about how these outstanding performances naturally make him dream of winning the Ballon d’Or, which will be presented on October 26 in London.
WC success is the ultimate requirement
Despite his remarkable domestic statistics, the Three Lions captain knows that winning the World Cup will almost certainly be necessary to secure the top individual honour. Delivering on the international stage is essential.
“I would be one of the favourites, for sure,” Kane explained. He further added: “Given the trophies I have won this season and the number of goals I have scored, I would be in the running.
“Especially because if England were to win the World Cup, you could imagine the trophy going to an English player.” This honest assessment underlines his clear understanding that club form alone may not be enough.
Fierce competition for the prestigious individual prize
The 32-year-old is completely realistic about the stiff competition he faces for the Ballon d’Or. He knows that several outstanding players have also staked their claim for the award after brilliant campaigns.
“When you look at who the current favorites are to win the Ballon d’Or, there’s Michael (Olise), the Champions League finalists and me,” he assesses.
The game is set to be exceptionally close, especially given that players like Ousmane Dembélé, who is 29, certainly have no intention of relinquishing the title without a serious fight. The presence of such talented rivals means that the outcome of the tournament will be decisive.
What’s next for the England captain
Having already secured a brilliant domestic treble, Kane must now shift his focus to international duty. England will finish preparations with friendlies against New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10.
Afterwards, the national team will begin their World Cup Group L campaign against Croatia on June 17, Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Guiding his country through these tests to global glory could secure his ultimate prize.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
