After being awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or on Monday night, England’s captain Harry Kane spoke extensively with “France Football” about his career journey, the emotions of the ceremony, and his future plans.
Regarding the moment his name was announced, Kane described feeling “extremely anxious and filled with emotions. My heart was pounding. It’s a completely different type of pressure compared to that of a big match, where you know you can change the course of the game with a great performance or a goal.
Harry Kane: “The Suspense Felt Like Twenty Minutes When Ronaldo Announced the Winner”
“When Ronaldo was about to announce the winner, it felt like the suspense lasted twenty minutes. When he pronounced my name, I was overwhelmed with emotions: relief, happiness… I didn’t know how to react. I was completely stunned. I had never experienced such a feeling before,” Kane told France Football.
Kane also revealed that he believed in his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or since his transfer to Bayern Munich: “I knew that the move to Bayern would give me the opportunity to progress and elevate my game. The goals scored and advancing in competitions… I was convinced that if I remained consistent, continued to develop, and scored more, then the Ballon d’Or would become a realistic goal.
Scoring 73 goals in a single season is simply incredible. Winning three domestic trophies in Germany and finishing third in the World Cup… I know England did not lift the trophy, but reaching the podium is still a significant achievement.
I was also close to the Champions League final. All of these factors contributed to an exceptional year. That’s when I realized that being among the favorites for the Ballon d’Or was a definite possibility.”
Final Standings for the 2026 Ballon d’Or
1. Harry Kane
2. Kylian Mbappé
3. Lamine Yamal
4. Rodri
5. Leo Messi
6. Hvicha Kvaratskhelia
7. Ousmane Dembélé
8. Erling Haaland
9. Michael Olise
10. Fabián Ruiz
11. Jude Bellingham
12. Pau Cubarsí
13. Achraf Hakimi
14. Vitinha
15. Declan Rice
16. Ferran Torres
17. Vinicius
18. Marc Cucurella
19. João Neves
20. Willian Pacho
21. Gabriel
22. Lautaro Martínez
23. Nuno Mendes
24. Luis Díaz
25. Marquinhos
26. Dayot Upamecano
27. Bruno Fernandes
28. Julián Quiñones
29. William Saliba
30. Sadio Mané
