Harry Kane reveals behind the scenes of his Ballon d'Or win: Ronaldo made me wait 20 minutes!

Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, revealed details of the moments he experienced before the announcement of his victory in the Ballon d'Or for 2026, confirming that he felt intense tension while waiting for the result to be announced, after Brazilian star Ronaldo took on the task of revealing the name of the award's winner during the ceremony held in London last Monday.

Kane said in an interview with the French newspaper "L'Équipe", reported by "Le Parisien" on Saturday: "I was really nervous, and my heart was beating very fast. It's completely different from the nerves you feel before a big match, where you know you can influence the result by playing well or scoring. In that moment, I just had to wait for the announcement."

He added: "Throughout the day, I received a lot of messages from former teammates, former coaches, friends, and family members. And when it was time for Ronaldo to announce the winner, I felt like he prolonged the suspense for 20 minutes. When he said my name, all the emotions came together at once; I felt relief and happiness, and I didn't know how to react, I was completely overwhelmed with emotions, and I had never experienced anything like it before."

The 33-year-old English forward expressed his happiness at joining the list of award winners alongside football legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, saying: "I still can't fully grasp the magnitude of this achievement, but I am happy to be part of this very exclusive circle, alongside Cristiano, Messi, and all the legends of the past. It's simply amazing."

Harry Kane spoke about the message he hopes to convey to young generations following his crowning, noting that his career, built on hard work, discipline, and sacrifices, can inspire boys and girls to achieve their dreams, even outside the world of football.

He said: "We must show them that they can achieve their dreams through hard work, discipline, and self-confidence. You have to go to training when no one is watching, when it rains, and even when you don't feel like it. You have to get up and commit to everything, including ice baths. It takes a lot of sacrifices."

Harry Kane has responded to criticism comparing him to more skillful dribblers and showmen, such as Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, asserting that his impact on the pitch is not limited to scoring goals or beating defenders.

He explained: "I know that I am not the player who can dribble past ten opponents before scoring, but I can hurt teams in many different ways. I also need to help the team clear the ball during corners, block shots, and track back when the opponent breaks on the counter. I am ready to do all these thankless tasks."

In closing his remarks, Harry Kane paid a special tribute to his wife Katie Goodland, who has been with him since childhood, noting that she was looking forward to his winning the Ballon d'Or even more than he was, and emphasizing that her support and sacrifices were key factors in his career.

He said: "I know the amount of effort you put in so that I can give my best, whether it's through taking care of the kids when I'm away or managing the demands of daily life. People see my career and what I offer on the pitch, but I'm a human too, and I have four kids, and I have to balance school, travel, and all the other things, while my wife has her own commitments as well."

Kane jokingly concluded about the new award, which his children used to play with the other awards he received: "This award is a bit more special, so I will have to be more careful, and I will put it in a high place."