Harry Kane of Bayern Munich in the realms of Messi and Ronaldo: "I always found these numbers ridiculous - and they are"
After an unbelievable year, Kane is one of the hottest contenders for the Ballon d'Or. The fact he is compared with players such as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo still leaves him astonished.
The 33-year-old scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and the England national team last season. That's a remarkable return in itself, and even more so in historical terms, because only one player has bettered it: in 2011/12, Messi scored 82 times for Barcelona and Argentina.
CR7, the other global football icon of the past two decades, also hit 69 goals for Real Madrid and Portugal in 2011/12.
"I grew up watching Messi and Ronaldo, that era when they simply dominated," Kane said in an interview with TNT Sports. "I always thought the numbers were just ridiculous - which they are. They are the two greatest players of our generation and probably of all time as well. The 73 goals are pretty impressive for me too."
Kane admitted he is still stunned to be mentioned in the same breath as those players.
He reacted with the same understatement to a soundbite from Michael Owen, the last English winner of the Ballon d'Or, which was played to him during the interview. Liverpool legend Owen said he hopes Kane "will join our small exclusive club".
Harry Kane: "It wasn't long ago that I was a fan"
Kane said he is "extremely proud" of last season and of receiving praise from a player like Owen. "I watched Michael play in the past and was a big England fan. It fills me with pride," Kane said.
Now 33, the centre-forward is at the peak of his career. His move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 helped him shake off the aura of never having won a trophy and take his game to another level.
"It wasn't long ago that I was the typical fan who wanted to become a professional," Kane said, "and now I'm here winning awards - and it's the same with the Ballon d'Or."
Harry Kane win titles with Bayern and all on his own
Since arriving in Munich, Kane has won the German championship twice and the DFB Cup once, and in 2024 and 2026 he claimed the Golden Shoe as Europe's top scorer. The title of the world's best footballer, which will be awarded at the end of October, would be the crowning achievement of his career.
"Of course, it is no longer in my hands now, but in the hands of the voters and those who decide it," said Kane, who is simply "happy" to be among the nominees.
Tuesday will bring the announcement of the 30 nominees in both the men's and women's world footballer of the year awards. The nominees in the other categories for coach of the year and goalkeeper of the year will also be confirmed.
For the first time, the award will be presented in 2026, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, not in Paris but in London. Alongside Kane, Kylian Mbappe, world champion Rodri and Lionel Messi are regarded as the leading favourites in the men's category.
