Harry Kane says Ballon d’Or success still feels unreal after Bayern Munich triumph

Harry Kane says he is still trying to take in winning the Ballon d’Or after celebrating the biggest individual achievement of his career in London.

The Bayern Munich striker lifted the award outside the London Palladium after Monday’s ceremony, with cameras capturing the moment just a few miles from Walthamstow, where he began his football journey.

“It really does feel like a dream, and I’m still trying to take in everything that happened,” Kane told Sky Sport Germany the following morning.

The 33-year-old was widely praised after being named the world’s best player, including by Prince William and his wife Catherine, who described him as “an exceptional player”.

The Daily Mail said Kane’s victory represented a success for a player who had come to embody professionalism by constantly working to improve his talent before finally receiving the reward for his efforts.

Bayern celebrations stretch from Munich to New York

The celebrations were not limited to England. Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena was illuminated in gold in honour of Kane, while the Empire State Building in New York was also lit up to mark his achievement.

Kane spent the night after the ceremony celebrating with friends and family at a London nightclub before returning to Munich on Tuesday to resume his duties with Bayern Munich.

He is due to be presented to the club’s supporters during Wednesday’s German Cup match against Magdeburg. Bayern Munich will then face Borussia Dortmund in the German Klassiker on Saturday, when the club plans to celebrate Kane’s award in front of its fans.

The occasion carries particular significance for Bayern Munich and the German Bundesliga, with Kane’s achievement providing a major boost to both the club and the league.

Ballon d’Or returns to Bayern Munich after 45 years

Kane’s award ended a 45-year wait for another Bayern Munich player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s success.

His victory came in a year in which the World Cup is being held, despite Bayern Munich not winning the UEFA Champions League. It nevertheless underlined the club’s ability to produce a player capable of competing for football’s most prestigious individual honours.

Rummenigge said Kane’s success showed that the route to the Ballon d’Or still runs through Bayern Munich and the German Bundesliga.

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl described the club as “a platform for world-class players”.

The club’s celebrations will continue at the Allianz Arena after its German Cup meeting with Magdeburg on 28 October 2026, before attention turns to the meeting with Borussia Dortmund.