| TL;DR Harry Kane is the bookmakers’ favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, which will be presented in London on Monday 26 October. He would be the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001.He scored 73 goals for Bayern and England last season.In October he won his 125th England cap, equalling Peter Shilton’s all-time record, and scored twice in a 3-0 win over Czechia. His next cap will make him England’s outright most-capped men’s player.Kane is close to a new Bayern Munich contract, reportedly to 2029. Fabrizio Romano says it may keep Tottenham’s matching rights if he ever returns to the Premier League.Born on 28 July 1993, he is England’s captain and record goalscorer, with 91 goals. |
Harry Kane is having the biggest few weeks of his career. In the space of a month he has equalled England’s appearance record, moved close to a new Bayern Munich contract, and emerged as favourite to become the first Englishman in a quarter of a century to win the Ballon d’Or.
Here is everything you need to know about England’s captain right now, and the stories behind the headlines.
Will Harry Kane Win the Ballon d’Or?
Kane is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, according to Sky Sports. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Monday 26 October 2026, the first time the awards have been held outside Paris.
If he wins, he will be the first Englishman to lift the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
Why he is the favourite
- 73 goals in one season. He scored 73 times for Bayern and England last season. Bayern board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said only Lionel Messi has scored more in a single year this century.
- World Cup record. At the 2026 World Cup he became England’s all-time top scorer at the tournament, with 11 goals, as England finished third.
- Trophies with Bayern. After years without silverware, he is now winning titles in Germany.
Who are his rivals?
The 30-man shortlist, announced on 8 September, also includes Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and defending champion Ousmane Dembélé. England team-mates Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are also nominated.
Mbappé has said publicly that he believes he should win. Bellingham has backed Kane, saying it is definitely possible.
| Key Takeaway Kane goes into 26 October as favourite, but the Ballon d’Or is decided by a journalists’ vote, not odds. A World Cup winner or a Champions League-winning star can still overtake him. |
Harry Kane Equals England’s Cap Record
Kane won his 125th England cap in a 3-0 Nations League win over Czechia at Wembley in October 2026, equalling Peter Shilton’s men’s record, according to England Football. He marked the occasion by scoring twice and called it the perfect night.
His next appearance will make him England’s outright most-capped men’s player, ending a record Shilton has held since 1990.
| Record | Kane’s figure |
| England caps | 125 (joint record with Peter Shilton) |
| England goals | 91 (all-time record) |
| World Cup goals for England | 11 (all-time record) |
| Games as England captain | Equalled Bobby Moore and Billy Wright’s record of 90 at the 2026 World Cup |
| England debut | 27 March 2015 |
Head coach Thomas Tuchel said he had run out of words to praise him.
Harry Kane’s New Bayern Contract
Kane’s current Bayern Munich contract runs out at the end of the 2026–27 season, but he is close to agreeing an extension.
German reporting suggests the new deal will run to 2029, with talks moving forward after the two sides discussed figures. Kane himself has said he is extremely happy in Munich. As of mid-October, no deal had been officially announced.
The Tottenham clause
This is the detail Spurs fans care about most. Fabrizio Romano says Kane’s representatives and Bayern have discussed how to handle a clause from his current contract covering a return to the Premier League and Tottenham’s matching rights, according to Football365.
What matching rights actually mean
Many headlines suggest the clause means Kane is going back to Tottenham. It does not.
Matching rights would give Spurs the chance to match any offer from another Premier League club if Bayern ever agreed to sell him to England. It would stop a rival such as Manchester United or Arsenal signing him without Tottenham getting first refusal. It would not force a move, and Kane has given no sign he wants one.
Manchester United have been mentioned in reports as admirers, and Barcelona have also been linked, but Kane’s focus appears to be firmly on Bayern.
Harry Kane, MLS and the NFL
Kane has never hidden his dream of trying American football once his playing days are over. He has said MLS could one day act as a stepping stone, allowing him to combine the end of his football career with a move towards the NFL.
For now, though, he has said MLS would come later in his career, and the MLS commissioner has described interest in Kane as the fulfilment of a dream. At 33, Kane says he is focused on getting everything he can out of the coming years at the top level.
Harry Kane Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Harry Edward Kane |
| Date of birth | 28 July 1993 (age 33) |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Club | Bayern Munich |
| Position | Striker |
| Joined Bayern | August 2023 from Tottenham, initial fee £86.4m |
| Contract | Until 2027, new deal reportedly close |
| England caps | 125 |
| England goals | 91 |
| England debut | 27 March 2015 |
| Grassroots club | Ridgeway Rovers, Essex |
Source: England Football.
Harry Kane Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| 26 October 2026 | Ballon d’Or ceremony in London (Kane is favourite) |
| October 2026 | Wins 125th England cap, equalling Shilton’s record, v Czechia |
| September 2026 | Named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist |
| Summer 2026 | Becomes England’s top World Cup scorer; England finish third |
| 2025–26 | Scores 73 goals for club and country |
| August 2023 | Joins Bayern Munich from Tottenham |
| 2023 | Becomes England’s all-time record goalscorer |
| 27 March 2015 | England debut |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday 26 October 2026 in London.
Is Harry Kane favourite to win the Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Kane is the bookmakers’ favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
When did an Englishman last win the Ballon d’Or?
Michael Owen was the last Englishman to win it, in 2001.
How many England caps does Harry Kane have?
Kane has 125 England caps, equalling Peter Shilton’s men’s record. His next cap will make him the outright record holder.
How many goals has Harry Kane scored for England?
He has scored 91 goals for England, the national record.
Is Harry Kane going back to Tottenham?
There is no sign of that. He is close to a new Bayern contract, which may include Tottenham matching rights on any future Premier League move.
When does Harry Kane’s Bayern contract end?
His current deal runs until 2027, but he is reported to be close to signing an extension to 2029.
How old is Harry Kane?
Harry Kane is 33. He was born on 28 July 1993.
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