Harry Kane eyes Ballon d'Or glory after record-breaking season

Bayern Munich star Harry Kane has addressed the intense discussions surrounding the Ballon d'Or as the prestigious football awards ceremony approaches in his home city of London on October 26. The English striker has been in sensational form, netting an extraordinary 73 goals across 65 matches for club and country during the 2025–26 season. Reflecting on his remarkable achievements, Kane noted that his recent performances speak for themselves, although he acknowledged that the final award ultimately rests in the hands of the voters.

Kane, who moved to the German giants Bayern Munich in 2023 at the age of 30, described the 2025–26 campaign as the absolute best season of his entire life. His prolific goalscoring trajectory has seen phenomenal figures in recent years, with his club football goal tallies across his first three seasons reaching 44, 41, and 61 respectively. Prior to his spell in Germany, the English forward had already established a formidable scoring record, which included a previous personal best of 41 goals for Tottenham during the 2017–18 season. In comparison, historical benchmarks in world football include Lionel Messi's astonishing 82 goals in 69 matches during the 2011–12 season.

The race for the Ballon d'Or features strong competition from other elite European performers, including Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, who scored 42 goals last season, and Barcelona young sensation Lamine Yamal, who netted 24 goals alongside 18 assists. Mbappe has voiced his strong ambitions for the accolade, stating, 'I have made a lot of history in the most important competition in the game (the World Cup). This is a great year to win the Ballon d'Or.' Meanwhile, Yamal has also staked his claim for the prize, remarking, 'Perhaps both of us (Mbappe) are among the best in the world, and based on what I have won, this year it is mine by right.'

Despite the fierce rivalry and external chatter, Kane remains typically grounded about his chances while expressing genuine excitement at the prospect of the ceremony taking place in London. 'Many people have told me this. Perhaps it is a good sign,' Kane said regarding the location. 'Since it is my own city, it makes the matter even more special. So yes, it is a strange feeling for it to be held there this year. We have to see what happens in the end.' The England international, who has scored 12 goals for his country alongside 6 goals in the World Cup, insists that his primary motivation remains the sheer euphoria of putting the ball in the back of the net.

When asked if he ever gets tired of scoring, Kane was emphatic in his denial, explaining that the sensation of scoring generates an incredible thrill accompanied by a profound sense of relief. He admitted that this specific feeling is something he knows he will deeply miss once he eventually retires from professional football. Furthermore, the veteran striker was quick to highlight the crucial, behind-the-scenes role played by his personal sports doctor, Alejandro Elorriaga, whom he has worked alongside for six and a half years.

Elaborating on his physical longevity and sustained excellence, Kane praised Elorriaga as one of the primary reasons he is able to maintain such high performance levels and play so many matches at his current age. While many observers assume that a player's performance naturally declines with age, Kane noted that his career has experienced almost the exact opposite trend. Expressing deep gratitude for their successful partnership, Kane emphasized that the continuous improvements he has made over the years are far from a mere coincidence.