…England captain admits he would prefer to know the winner before Monday’s ceremony
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has revealed that the suspense surrounding the 2026 Ballon d’Or is taking a toll on his family, with his wife particularly anxious to discover whether he has won football’s prestigious individual award.
Kane, who is among the contenders for this year’s prize, admitted that he would prefer to know the result before Monday’s ceremony rather than endure hours of uncertainty.
The striker made the disclosure following Bayern Munich’s 2-2 UEFA Champions League draw with Arsenal, with football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano sharing his comments on X on Friday.
“My wife would prefer to know the result now, and my family is very nervous,” Kane said.
“I understand France Football wishes to keep silent so that all the stars can attend, but from my point of view, of course I would like to know the result without having to wait all evening. I will surely enjoy the evening.”
EFCC Sacks 40 Staff Over Corruption, Recovers N1.23tn in Three Years
Netizens Knock VeryDarkMan Over Dangote Shares Claim, Say ₦18,000 Investment Story Incomplete
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, according to the reported arrangements, marking what would be the first time the event has been staged outside Paris.
The occasion also coincides with the 70th anniversary of the award, first presented to England’s Sir Stanley Matthews in 1956.
Kane enters the awards conversation following an outstanding 2025–26 campaign in which he reportedly scored 73 goals for club and country.
His performances helped Bayern Munich secure a domestic double and strengthened his credentials for an award that has eluded English footballers for more than two decades.
Should Kane win, he would become the first English player to claim the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
He would also end Bayern Munich’s long wait for a winner, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge the last player to receive the award while representing the German club.
However, Kane faces competition from several prominent players, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and defending winner Ousmane Dembélé.
Despite the growing speculation, the England captain insisted that he had tried to remain focused on football rather than the outcome of the individual award.
“I try not to think about it. Obviously it is hard not to. There are always rumours and stuff flying around so you try to stay away from it,” he explained.
Dangote Refinery IPO: When Africa Begins to Own What It Builds
After Nearly 11 Months, Mexico Accepts Reno Omokri as Nigeria’s Ambassador
Kane acknowledged that the secrecy surrounding the result had contributed to the tension within his household, although he expressed confidence that he would enjoy the ceremony regardless of the outcome.
“We’ll have to just enjoy it and try not to stress out too much,” he added.
With the winner yet to be publicly announced, Kane and his family face an anxious wait to discover whether the England striker will finally add the Ballon d’Or to his list of individual honours.
