Harry Kane faces chance to end England's Ballon d'Or drought

Michael Owen remains the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or, having claimed the award in 2001, becoming the fourth Englishman in history to achieve this feat after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, and Kevin Keegan.

However, the wait for the English may come to an end this year, as Harry Kane is making a strong entry into the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, where the Bayern Munich striker and England international tops the list of candidates for many.

This follows an exceptional season for Harry Kane, who scored 73 goals with Bayern Munich and the England national team, placing himself among the top contenders for the prestigious award.

The significant buzz surrounding the Ballon d'Or highlights the increasing importance of individual awards in modern football, as the award now represents global recognition of the best player in the world, rather than just an additional honor for a player who has had a standout season.

If Kane wins, he will become the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen 25 years ago, bringing the award back to England after a long absence.