OPINION: The Ballon d'Or usually goes to a player who lifted the World Cup in a global tournament year - but there is no more deserving winner than Harry Kane10:00, 07 Sep 2026Updated 10:01, 07 Sep 2026It is incredible that English football has not had a Ballon D’Or winner in 25 years. But the long wait has to end because there can be no more deserving winner than Harry Kane.For Kane to score 73 goals for club and country across a single season is an astonishing achievement. Yes, in a World Cup year, the winner normally comes from the team which lifts the World Cup.But, in my view, Kane presents a more compelling case as an individual ahead of even Spain’s squad of World Cup winners. Rodri was Spain’s most important player in the tournament and, over the course of 12 months, Kane has done more.The last English winner was Michael Owen in 2001 and the former Real Madrid star has even backed Kane to get the Ballon D’Or and join the “exclusive club.”‌Quite right, too. You will be familiar by now that I love Jude Bellingham and he finished third two years ago. He was brilliant at the World Cup and was surely England’s best player.However, Kane did captain England to third place (their best ever finish on foreign soil) and scored six goals in the World Cup.But, again, over the course of the year, it is Kane who was consistent, scored an incredible amount of goals, won the Bundesliga, the Super Cup and the German Cup.‌He was comfortably the top scorer in Europe, outshone the likes of Ousmane Dembele for the Champions League winners and was way more prolific than Kylian Mbappe.His all-round game has never been better as he drops deep, links play and is a great leader for club and country. Let’s not forget the Ballon d'Or criteria are:Individual performances, decisive and impressive character Team performances and achievements Class and fair play. Kane fits with all of those things. He is a class act. Brilliant team and individual player. His achievements are off the scale.‌One thing we don’t hear enough about is his passion and hard work for charity, his foundation, giving back for the community and his affection for his upbringing and roots.Kane is the epitome of the model pro. He dreams of these achievements and emulating the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.This is his time. And there’s something else. It has gone slightly under the radar that the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 26 is being held in London for the first time.The famous Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris has hosted in recent years and the organisers have given a nod to the fact it is 70 years since Stanley Matthews won the first award.‌Do not be fooled by coincidence. The Ballon d’Or timing and location is done with a purpose. And there should be an open invitation for Harry Kane.Join our WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Content cannot be displayed without consentChoose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌