Harry Kane focuses on new season despite Ballon d’Or nomination after 73-goal campaign

Harry Kane says winning the Ballon d’Or would be an “amazing achievement”, but insists the award is not dominating his thoughts as he prepares for the new season.

The Bayern Munich and England striker is among the contenders for football’s most prestigious individual prize after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country.

The Ballon d’Or will be presented on 26 October in London, with the ceremony recognising the leading individual performances and achievements of the 2025-26 season.

Speaking about his nomination, Kane said, as reported by ESPN: “I feel very proud of the performance and level I showed throughout the past year; the Ballon d’Or is the highest individual honour a player can aspire to.”

Kane added: “I know I had a great season, but my focus now, as usual, is on the new season. The award is not in my hands; I gave everything I could on the pitch, and it is now down to the votes of the voters and media, which are things outside my control, and we will see what the results are.”

He said the possibility of winning the prize was exciting, but that the decision remained some way off.

“Of course, winning the award would be an amazing achievement, but there are still about two or three months before the decision is made, so it is not occupying my thoughts completely at the moment,” Kane said.

The 32-year-old played a central role as Bayern Munich won both the Bundesliga and the German Cup last season. The German side also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to win the competition.

Kane’s form also extended to the international stage. He scored 12 goals for England, including goals at the World Cup, where England’s campaign ended in the semi-finals after defeat by Argentina.

The striker’s campaign has placed him in contention to become only the latest English winner of the Ballon d’Or. The award has previously gone to English players on six occasions, with Stanley Matthews winning in 1956, Bobby Charlton in 1966, Kevin Keegan taking the honour in 1978 and 1979, and Michael Owen becoming the most recent English recipient in 2001.

The latest edition of the award was won by Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele.

Kane’s comments underline his intention to leave the outcome to the voting process while concentrating on his performances for Bayern Munich and England. The winner will be announced at the London ceremony on 26 October.