Harry Kane enters 2026 Ballon d'Or race after scoring 73 goals

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane has emerged as a leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a record-breaking season. The 33-year-old scored a total of 73 goals for both club and country during the 2025/26 campaign, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous single-season high of 69 goals. His tally places him second only to Lionel Messi’s 82-goal season in all-time single-season records.

Kane’s prolific form included 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich, helping the club secure both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. He also earned the European Golden Shoe. If he wins the award, he will become the fifth English player to do so, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen.

In recent interviews, Kane expressed pride in his achievements but noted that the final decision rests with the voters. He also discussed his professional longevity, citing Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modrić as inspirations for continuing to play at a high level into his late 30s.