Harry Kane makes history, ends England’s 25-year Ballon d’Or drought

LONDON: Harry Kane has reached the pinnacle of his football career, becoming England’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 25 years after claiming the prestigious individual award at a historic ceremony in London on Monday.

The Bayern Munich striker beat Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal and French superstar Kylian Mbappe to secure football’s most coveted individual honour, becoming the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

The 33-year-old’s triumph marked a remarkable milestone for English football, rewarding a season in which his extraordinary goalscoring form helped Bayern Munich secure a domestic league and cup double.

Kane scored an astonishing 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country last season, underlining his status as one of the world’s most prolific forwards. He also netted six times as England finished third at the World Cup.

Speaking to AFP after receiving the award, Kane described the achievement as a special moment for both himself and his country.

“I love to represent my country and to bring this trophy back to them and have an English winner, I think, is something that’s really, really special, especially here in London,” he said.

The ceremony was the first Ballon d’Or event held on English soil. However, the evening began with disruption as heavy London traffic delayed proceedings by nearly an hour, forcing several high-profile guests to arrive late.

Despite his remarkable individual achievements, Kane’s career has also been shaped by painful near misses. England’s all-time record goalscorer and Tottenham Hotspur’s former captain endured defeat in the 2019 Champions League final with Spurs and twice suffered heartbreak in European Championship finals with England.

His move to Bayern Munich in 2023 proved a turning point, providing a new environment in which to develop his game and compete for major honours.

Kane acknowledged that the decision to leave Tottenham was a significant step, with some observers questioning the move at the time.

He said joining Bayern had helped him improve alongside world-class teammates and pushed his performances to another level.

Meanwhile, Spain continued its dominance of the women’s award, with Alexia Putellas claiming the Ballon d’Or for a third time. Her success followed her role in Barcelona’s Champions League triumph last season before her move to London City Lionesses.

For Kane, however, the night belonged to England. After years of personal excellence without football’s ultimate individual recognition, his historic victory finally brought the Ballon d’Or back to an Englishman after a quarter-century wait.