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Bayern Munich star Harry Kane believes he will be a strong Ballon d’Or contender if he leads England to World Cup glory.
After a spectacular season in which he scored 61 goals in all competitions, the prolific striker is fully confident that lifting the top international trophy will solidify his claim to the sport’s top individual prize.
Kane reflects on spectacular individual campaign
Kane has enjoyed arguably the best campaign 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. In addition, he won the European Golden Boot for the second time in three years and won three collective trophies.
Bayern Munich have undoubtedly benefited from their incredible performance this season.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe, the forward spoke about how these outstanding achievements naturally lead him to dream of claiming the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on October 26 in London.
Success in the World Cup is the fundamental requirement
Despite his remarkable domestic statistics, the Three Lions captain knows that winning the World Cup is almost certainly necessary to secure top individual honour. Delivering on the international stage is crucial.
“He would definitely be one of the favorites,” Kane explained. And he added: “Taking into account the trophies I have won this season and the number of goals I have scored, I would be among the candidates.
“Especially because, if England won the World Cup, one would imagine the trophy would go to an English player.” This honest assessment highlights his clear understanding that club form alone might not be enough.
Fierce competition for the prestigious individual award
The 32-year-old is completely realistic about the fierce competition he faces for the Ballon d’Or. He knows that several notable players have also claimed the award after brilliant campaigns.
“When you look at who the current favorites are to win the Ballon d’Or, there are Michael (Olise), the Champions League finalists and me,” he estimates.
The battle will be exceptionally close, especially considering that players like Ousmane Dembélé, 29, certainly have no intention of handing over 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 achieved a brilliant domestic treble, Kane must now turn his attention to international duty. England will finish their preparations with friendlies against New Zealand on June 6 and Costa Rica on June 10.
The national team will then begin its World Cup Group L campaign against Croatia on June 17, Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Leading your country through these trials to global glory could secure your ultimate prize.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across 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 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) and each match will be streamed live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
