England manager Thomas Tuchel has backed Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich and England.
Tuchel believes Kane’s remarkable goalscoring record and collection of major honours make him deserving of the prestigious individual award. Speaking to ITV Sport, the England boss said, “Harry Kane is my Ballon d’Or winner this year.”
“After this season, yeah. 70 plus goals. Three titles with Bayern Munich. Semifinals of the World Cup and Champions League, yeah,”
Tuchel added.
Kane enjoyed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign, scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England. He also helped Bayern win the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup, while England reached the World Cup semi-finals.
Softfootball understands that Kane’s impressive campaign has made him one of the leading names in the Ballon d’Or race, with the award set to be announced on October 26.
Tuchel is not the only prominent figure to back Kane for the prize. Former England manager Mauricio Pochettino also believes the Bayern striker deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or following his exceptional season. Pochettino highlighted Kane’s goalscoring contribution and the three major trophies he helped Bayern secure.
Kane himself has remained cautious about the individual award, saying the decision is ultimately in the hands of the voters. For now, however, Tuchel and Pochettino have both publicly made their case for the England captain to claim the honour.
Their strong endorsements highlight his remarkable goal scoring record and outstanding leadership on the pitch this past season across Europe.
