At Wembley, where England are preparing to meet Spain in the Nations League, Thomas Tuchel has made his Ballon d’Or choice clear: Harry Kane should take the 2026 award after a season that carried Bayern Munich silverware and England’s World Cup run into the final weeks of the calendar.
Tuchel believes Kane’s return of 73 goals for club and country, combined with three trophies in Munich and a World Cup semi-final appearance, makes the England captain the leading candidate for football’s individual prize. England ultimately finished third at the tournament.
“Yes, after this season,” Tuchel said when asked whether Kane would be his selection. “He has scored more than 70 goals, won three titles with Bayern, and reached the semi-finals of both the World Cup and the Champions League.”
A Munich season with international weight
Kane collected the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup with Bayern during the 2025-26 campaign, adding collective honours to a striking total assembled across his club and international matches.
The 33-year-old is among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony scheduled for 26 October. Should he win, he would become the first English recipient since Michael Owen in 2001.
Tuchel’s case for his No. 9 extended beyond goals. The England coach said Kane has raised the physical intensity of his performances and broadened his contribution when his side do not have possession.
“He keeps improving,” Tuchel said. “He has added real physical intensity and is fully committed to the high press and every phase of a match: playing out from deep, finishing, building in a medium block and defending. He is the complete package.”
Chasing Shilton and looking towards 2030
Kane already stands as England men’s all-time leading scorer, and the current international window could take him alongside Peter Shilton at the top of the national team appearance list. If he features in each of England’s four matches during the break, he will reach 125 caps.
Tuchel was also asked whether Kane could remain part of England’s plans for the 2030 World Cup, to be staged across Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Kane will be 36 during that tournament, but the coach saw no reason for age to close the door.
“There is no problem,” Tuchel said. “Age is only age; quality is what matters, and he still has plenty ahead of him.”
England begin their four-match international programme on Saturday against Spain at Wembley, with Kane arriving at the national camp carrying both a possible Ballon d’Or and another historic England landmark within reach.
