England captain Harry Kane believes that leading the national side to World Cup glory would not only secure a historic triumph but also firmly establish him as a leading contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
The prolific striker, fresh from another exceptional season with Bayern Munich, is now setting his sights on both team success and individual recognition on the global stage.
Kane’s club campaign saw him net an astonishing 61 goals across all competitions, including a stunning hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final. This incredible scoring prowess helped Vincent Kompany’s Bayern secure a domestic double, underscoring Kane’s pivotal role.
This formidable form is now seen as crucial to England’s aspirations for World Cup success, with the majority of Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad having now assembled in Florida for their pre-tournament preparations.
The 32-year-old forward is acutely aware of the immense pressure and expectations that accompany a major international tournament, and he is focused on delivering peak performance once again.
Speaking to L’Equipe before joining the England camp, Kane stated: “The Ballon d’Or if we win the World Cup? I would certainly be among the favourites.
“Considering the trophies I’ve won this season and the number of goals I’ve scored, I would be in the running. Especially since, if England win the World Cup, we could imagine the trophy going to an English player.”
He acknowledged other contenders, adding: “When you look at who the current favourites are to win the Ballon d’Or, there is (Bayern Munich’s) Michael (Olise), players who were Champions League finalists and me.
“But at the same time, I’m not the kind of person who claims to deserve a Ballon d’Or. I try to let my performances on the pitch speak for themselves.”
Former Chelsea manager Tuchel, now at the helm of the England squad, is tasked with building on the progress made under Sir Gareth Southgate and securing the nation’s first major tournament victory since 1966. Having previously worked with Tuchel during his tenure at Bayern, Kane expressed full confidence in the coach’s approach.
“At Bayern, I loved his personality, his ideas for the team, and the way he got me playing. In a way, he brought those methods to the national team,” Kane revealed.
He further elaborated on England’s collective ambition: “The ambition is to win it (the World Cup), obviously, that has to be our goal.
“We know it will be difficult, but we have been close in recent years to winning a major tournament – we reached two Euro finals (in 2021 and 2024), a semi-final (in 2018) and a quarter-final (in 2022) of the World Cup.
“This year, we will have a new coach, new players. It is exciting – even if this kind of competition generates a lot of pressure.” The squad now faces the challenge of turning near-misses into ultimate glory.
