Harry Kane has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to claim the prize since 2001. The Bayern Munich striker's remarkable scoring record proved decisive in a year when the other leading candidates each carried caveats.
Kylian Mbappe shone individually but did not win a major trophy for club or country. Lamine Yamal had an understated World Cup after returning from injury. Rodri only played half a season. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was outstanding for Paris Saint-Germain but did not get the opportunity to play at the World Cup. With all that considered, Kane found himself as favourite, with the added draw of the ceremony being staged in London for the first time ever.
A Season of Remarkable Numbers
Kane does not have the allure and excitement surrounding him of Mbappe or Yamal, nor the PR machine of the Spanish clubs. With no World Cup or Champions League trophy to push his case, he relied on the sheer weight of his numbers. Those numbers were remarkable: Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern and England last season.
That proved enough. It has not always been the case, but on this occasion the best player in the world last season was rightfully awarded the Ballon d'Or.
The Missing Piece: Major Trophies
For a striker as remarkably complete as he is, Kane has repeatedly suffered frustration when glory has been within touching distance. Across defeats in the final of two European Championships and a Champions League, Kane did not score, managing a grand total of two shots across those three matches.
The criticism put to Kane for much of his career has been that he has not delivered on the biggest stage, that his goal tallies had not been translated into trophy hauls. He won the Bundesliga and the German Cup last season but that point still very much remains. Had he dragged Bayern to the Champions League or England to the World Cup, the Ballon d'Or voting would surely have been a landslide.
Instead, he was quiet in the World Cup quarter-final against Norway and had no impact at all in the semi-final defeat to Argentina. Kane scored six goals at the tournament, but it was Jude Bellingham who was the primary source of decisive moments in attack.
What Comes Next
When the lights are shining brightest, Kane is yet to have that one standout match. Goals in the Bundesliga are a given for Kane, as is the title, even if Bayern contrived not to win it in his first season at the club. Those are not how he should be judged.
Kane was a worthy winner of the Ballon d'Or, but that nagging doubt over the trophy cabinet remains. It is Champions League glory or international silverware that would now complete his career. Bayern are only the fourth favourites for the Champions League this season, behind Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.
There is no sign of Kane slowing down, but the next World Cup is a long way away. His last big chance of leading England to an international trophy could be in 2028, when the Three Lions have a Euros on home soil to target. Adding his name to the list of Ballon d'Or winners ensures Kane will go down as a great of the game, but the final years of his career must be about adding meaningful, major team honours to go with it.
