Kane Ballon d’Or Win Makes History
The Kane Ballon d’Or triumph is official. Harry Kane has been crowned the best player in the world at a ceremony in London. He is the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was emotional on stage. “I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it extra special,” he said.
Joining England’s Ballon d’Or Elite
Kane is the fifth Englishman to win the prize. Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) are the others.
Two more winners from the United Kingdom sit alongside them. Scotland’s Denis Law won in 1964, and Northern Ireland’s George Best took the award in 1968.
Kane also ends a long wait for his club. He is the first Bayern player to win since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Mbappe and Yamal Complete the Podium
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and France finished second. Barcelona and Spain attacker Lamine Yamal took third place.
Yamal had been one of the favourites after winning the World Cup with Spain. Kane edged him out all the same.
Kane’s Reaction: Thanks and Respect
Kane thanked everyone who voted for him and admitted the choice must have been tough this year.
“[There are] some world-class players in the room tonight. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees tonight. [It is] an impressive showing of determination and what hard work can really achieve.”
His words were gracious. He shared the moment with the other nominees.
Tuchel Pays Tribute to His Captain
England manager Thomas Tuchel was quick to praise his captain. He said he ran out of superlatives to describe Kane’s performances a long time ago.
“I ran out of superlatives to describe your performances a long time ago, but I’m delighted to see that you have now been formally recognised by the football world.”
Tuchel also said the 25-year wait made the achievement extra special. He added that England are lucky to have Kane as their leader.
“I know you will enjoy this moment with your loved ones and then get back to doing what you do best – scoring goals and winning football matches.”
Inside the Record-Breaking Season Behind the Kane Ballon d’Or
The numbers explain why Kane won. He scored 61 goals in 51 club matches last season. No Bayern player has ever scored more in one campaign.
Counting his England games, the tally rises to 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches. Only one player at a club in Europe’s top five leagues has ever scored more in a season.
His 61 club goals were 19 more than any other player in those leagues managed. It is also the highest total since Cristiano Ronaldo scored 61 for Real Madrid 11 years ago.
Domestic Dominance in Germany
Kane finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 36 goals. That was 17 clear of the next best player.
He added 14 goals in the Champions League for the beaten semi-finalists. In the German Cup he scored 10, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 final win over Stuttgart. He also scored once in the German Super Cup.
Bayern have had legendary scorers such as Gerd Muller, Rummenigge and Robert Lewandowski. None of them scored as many in a single season.
England Goals Lift Him Into Rare Company
Kane scored 12 goals for England last season, six of them at the World Cup. That took his overall total to 73.
Only Lionel Messi has scored more in a season among players from Europe’s top leagues. He managed 82 for Barcelona and Argentina in 2011-12.
Here is how the top of that list looks:
- Gerd Muller: 72 in 1972-73
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 66 in 2011-12 and 2014-15
- Brazil’s Ronaldo: 66 in 1996-97
- Erling Haaland: 64 in 2022-23
- Luis Suarez: 64 in 2015-16
Winning Without a Major Trophy
Kane won despite lifting neither of football’s biggest prizes last season. England lost in the World Cup semi-finals, and Bayern fell at the same stage of the Champions League.
He did win the German double. That more than doubled his career trophy total, as he had also won the Bundesliga the season before.
This kind of win is unusual. It is only the fifth time in the past 20 years that the award has gone to a player without a World Cup, Champions League, European Championship or Copa America title. Kane joins Messi, who did it three times, and Ronaldo.
Last year, Champions League success helped Ousmane Dembele of PSG and France take the crown.
Pundits Backed Kane All Along
Former England striker Alan Shearer had no doubts before the ceremony. He said the winner should be Kane, and he called the striker’s numbers over the last 12 to 18 months “absolutely sensational.”
Danny Murphy, another ex-England player, described Kane’s goalscoring as relentless and brilliant. He said Kane had been the best centre forward in the world for the last 12 months. He also praised how well Kane adapted at Bayern.
Can Kane Win the Ballon d’Or Again?
Some already wonder whether Kane can retain the trophy. His start to this season suggests he might.
He has 10 goals in his first 12 games for Bayern. Add six in four Nations League games for England, and he has 16 in 16 matches. Bayern are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
A Treble would make him very hard to overlook, especially in a year without a World Cup, European Championship or Copa America. The last player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win in consecutive years was Marco van Basten in 1988 and 1989.
Yamal and Mbappe Stay in the Hunt
Yamal will be looking for third time lucky after finishing second twice in two years. He has 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 games for Barcelona this season. Barcelona are currently favourites for the Champions League, which could prove decisive.
At 20, Yamal would be the youngest ever winner. Brazil’s Ronaldo holds that record, having won at 21 in 1997.
Mbappe also fancies his chances of a first win. He has 14 goals in 13 appearances for club and country.
Arsenal and Paris St-Germain are two other frontrunners for the Champions League.
A Defining Moment for English Football
The Kane Ballon d’Or win caps an extraordinary year of goals and records. It ends a 25-year wait for English football and puts Kane in the company of the country’s greatest players.
He now has the chance to defend the title. If his early form continues, the debate over who wins next year may start with him again.