Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport

Harry Kane may have just won the Ballon d'Or but some are already wondering if he is in a good place to retain it next year.

The striker has scored 10 goals in his opening 12 games for Bayern this season.

Throw in six goals in four Nations League games for England and that is a total of 16 in 16 matches so far.

Bayern are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.

If they were to win a Treble - and Kane keeps scoring at about a goal a game - it would be tough to look past him, especially in a season with no World Cup, European Championship or Copa America.

The last player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win it two years in a row was Marco van Basten in 1988 and 1989.

However, Lamine Yamal will be hoping to make it to the top, having now finished second and third over the past two years.

He has started the season in electric form, with 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 games for Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League.

And Barca are currently favourites to win the Champions League, which could ultimately end up being a deciding factor.

He would be the youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or - aged 20 - if he does lift it next year.

Real Madrid's Mbappe will also fancy his chances of winning for the first time, with 14 goals in 13 appearances for club and country.

The youngest winner remains Brazilian Ronaldo, who was 21 when he won in 1997.

Arsenal, who have never had a Ballon d'Or winner, and Paris St-Germain are two of the other frontrunners to win the Champions League.

Julien Laurens
French football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

Harry Kane is mind-blowing when you think about it. The numbers are incredible, even without taking into account the assists and the performances that often go unnoticed.

His individual performances have been outstanding, but I wouldn't have voted for him. Not because he didn't have a great year or didn't deserve it, but because Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal are much more in the spotlight. They're far more prominent on social media than Harry will ever be, and that's simply a generational thing.

I did think that might give them a slight edge, but the voters clearly recognised the genius of Harry Kane. There aren't many players like him in football history.

Image source, Getty Images

There has certainly been no slowing down for Harry Kane in front of goal at the start of this season.

The England captain has already netted 10 times in 12 appearances, including a goal against Arsenal in the latest round of Champions League fixtures.

While his incredible tally of 61 goals will be difficult to match in 2026–27, let alone surpass, the 33-year-old looks almost certain to better his assist record.

He has already matched the seven assists he provided throughout the entire 2025–26 campaign after just 12 matches this season.

Harry Redknapp
Former football manager on BBC Radio 5 Live

'I'm going to practice, and I am going to do it.' That's how Harry Kane was. He reminded me a lot of Frank Lampard, who trained every day after training. He just wanted to become a footballer and improve his game.

He is a great example to young lads: don't give up. You can make it if you work hard. If you have a dream, keep trying to fulfil it.

Wembley was lit up to recognise Harry Kane's achievement, with the England X account writing: "The home of the world's best footballer."

Image source, Getty Images

It looks like at least one Tottenham Hotspur supporter got to enjoy Harry Kane's victory up close and personal yesterday evening.

One fan was part of Kane's Ballon d'Or after-party, posting a video to his Instagram account, external of a snippet of the night.

Lots of bottles. Lots of sparklers. And the striker enjoying a shot, of a different kind to usual.

Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks said Kane would be back in training with the German side this afternoon. Based on that video, I'm not so sure...

Declan Rice posted: "Incredible."

Alongside goat and heart emojis, Morgan Rogers said: "The best ever."

Djed Spence posted: "My captain."

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer: "This is a proud day for FC Bayern. Harry Kane can do everything - and he scores goals, goals, goals. He now stands alongside Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - that says it all about our history: The club and Harry Kane have found each other, grown together, and together achieve the very highest goals.

"We are proud that this outstanding athlete and person, in every aspect of his life, is part of our FC Bayern family. Some wear a jersey - Harry Kane wears his teams. Congratulations to all our nominees: to our players and to Vincent Kompany!"

Julien Laurens
French football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

I've said for many years that Kane is England's best number nine and best number 10 as well. And there aren't many players like that, not just in the world today, but throughout history.

Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks sat down for the Bundesliga side's pre-match news conference this morning.

And he was joined by Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane.

Image source, Bayern Munich

Well, kind of...

Image source, Bayern Munich

Please keep sending in your Harry Kane poems!

The Ballon d'Or was only available to European players from its formation in 1956 until 1995 when it was opened up to everyone.

Since then in four of the seven World Cup years, the Ballon d'Or has been awarded to a world champion - including Messi in 2023 (as the 2022 World Cup was in the winter).

However, that was the first time since 2006 it had happened, with Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric all winning since then despite not winning the World Cup that year.

This is only the fifth time in the past 20 years that the Ballon d'Or has not gone to a player who has won either the World Cup, the Champions League or a European Championship/Copa America - with Kane joining Messi (three times) and Ronaldo.

Lamine Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain, had been one of the favourites but lost out to Kane.

Last year, winning the Champions League helped PSG and France's Ousmane Dembele to the crown.

France forward Kylian Mbappe became the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot twice after earning the award for top scorer at the 2026 tournament.

The 27-year-old netted 10 goals in eight games to edge out Lionel Messi.

Mbappe also became the men's World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals - one ahead of Messi.

Despite scoring 42 goals in 44 games for Real Madrid last season, Mbappe did not win a major trophy.

He finished second behind Harry Kane in the Ballon d'Or.

Image source, Getty Images

And the love was mutual between Harry Kane and his former club, with the England captain finding a moment to thank Spurs in his speech:

"Thank you to Tottenham Hotspur as well," Kane said.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without Tottenham. All the guidance, all the coaches you have allowed me to live my dream. For all those moments, all the ups and downs along the way has led me to this moment here today.

"To all the fans, Bayern, England fans, Spurs fans and all my fans around the world. I love you in this room tonight.

"The support you give me - I appreciate it all. I remember being a fan not long ago and what it means to play football. It was a dream of mine.

"Any time I can give back to you guys, it is an honour and privilege to do so."

Harry Kane, speaking to Sky Sports this morning following his historic Ballon d'Or win on Monday evening: "It sounds crazy to be honest but it sounds pretty good. It was a special night. An incredible feeling. I'm still just trying to take it all in really. It feels like a dream.

"The emotion [when his name got called] was relief, joy, happiness, excitement. There was so much waiting to find out the winner and in at the moment it was quite nerve-wracking so to have that kind of release and to be able to share it with everyone there in that theatre was special.

"I like to do the work behind the scenes. Sometimes when nobody is watching, it's the best time to improve and let everything else just explode on the pitch. There is no better way to prove that than winning this award."

Image source, Getty Images