Harry Kane Has Done Everything in His Power

Harry Kane has just completed one of the finest seasons of his career, inevitably putting his name among the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. However, the Bayern Munich striker is refusing to get ahead of himself, knowing the final decision is now entirely out of his hands.

The England captain produced extraordinary numbers last season, scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions for Bayern, including 36 goals and five assists in just 31 Bundesliga matches.

"I think the Ballon d'Or is as big as it gets from an individual point of view. I know I had a great season last season, but as always, like I said already, the focus is on this new season," Kane said.

"The Ballon d'Or Is Not in My Hands"

Kane believes his performances throughout the campaign allowed him to do everything possible to strengthen his case, but he knows the outcome now rests with voters.

"The Ballon d'Or is not in my hands. I've done what I can do in terms of putting in the performances. It's now down to votes and other people and the media. Stuff I can't control. We'll see what happens," the striker explained.

The England star admitted it would be "amazing" to win the award but insisted the announcement is still months away and that the Ballon d'Or race is not at the forefront of his mind as the new season gets underway.

A Historic Season With Bayern Munich

Kane's remarkable individual performances were accompanied by silverware. After finally ending his long wait for a major trophy with a Bundesliga triumph, the striker added another German league title, the DFB-Pokal and the German Supercup to his collection.

He also delivered for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring six goals and overtaking Gary Lineker as the country's all-time leading scorer at the tournament.

However, the Three Lions were eliminated by Argentina in the semifinals, preventing Kane from pairing his outstanding individual numbers with the biggest trophy in international football.

Lothar Matthäus Backs Kane for the Ballon d'Or

Kane has received significant support in Germany, with Lothar Matthäus naming the Bayern Munich striker as his leading candidate to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

"For me, Harry Kane is the leading contender for the Ballon d'Or. I look at the entire year, not just one game or one World Cup," the German legend said, while questioning whether any of Spain's world champions clearly stood above the rest throughout the entire season.

Matthäus did acknowledge the biggest obstacle facing Kane's candidacy: the striker fell just short of reaching the two biggest finals of the campaign. England lost in the World Cup semifinals, while Bayern Munich were eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain at the same stage of the Champions League.