Harry Kane says England’s Ballon d’Or triumph belongs to the whole team

Harry Kane dedicated his 2026 Ballon d’Or success to England’s players and staff, saying the award reflected their collective work rather than an individual achievement.

The England captain was honoured by the Football Association, which illuminated the Wembley arch in gold to celebrate his victory. Kane used his speech after receiving the award from Brazilian legend Ronaldo to look back on the year he shared with the national team.

“To all my England team-mates, it has been a special year,” Kane said. “It has not been perfect, but we have experienced many good moments. We built a strong bond between us and felt a great sense of togetherness, whether in the way we trained and played or in the atmosphere we shared in the hotel during the World Cup.”

Kane said leading England remained a source of considerable pride and made clear that he viewed the prize as recognition for the entire squad.

“It is a real honour to be your captain,” he added. “That makes me extremely proud, so this award is definitely for all of us.”

The striker also thanked England manager Thomas Tuchel and the rest of the coaching staff, praising the standards they had set and the way they encouraged the players to improve.

“To Thomas Tuchel and the England coaching staff, once again, thank you,” Kane said. “The way you lead us, and the way you motivate and push us to raise our standards, is something to admire. It is an honour to represent you and to represent the England badge in the way you do.”

Kane finished his speech by expressing his gratitude to Debbie Hewitt, chair of the Football Association, and to everyone working for the organisation.

He said representing and captaining England was a great honour, placing further emphasis on his connection with the national team as he celebrated the biggest individual prize of his career.

England’s listed fixtures include a German Cup match between Bayern Munich and Magdeburg on 28 October 2026, while England are scheduled to face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League – Path One on 12 November 2026.