After 73 goals in 65 matches last season, the Bayern Munich striker is the bookies' favourite.
Harry Kane says he would love to know now whether he has won the Ballon d'Or, and that the wait is stressful for his family. The Bayern Munich and England striker is the odds-on favourite for the individual award, which is due to be revealed at the London Palladium on Monday night.
Kane said his wife would prefer to know, adding that "it's very stressful for everyone". He said he could see why the result is kept back, since more people tune in when nobody knows the winner. He also said it is their decision, and he cannot control it.
Kane said there are always rumours flying around, and that he tries to stay away from them:
"I try not to think about it. Obviously it is hard not to."
On Wednesday, Kane scored from the penalty spot in a 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena. His standout moment, however, came with a pinpoint through pass that found Alphonso Davies, whose finish made the score 1-1. Kane now has 16 goals this season, 10 for Bayern and six for England.
Last season he scored 61 goals for Bayern and 12 for England, and ESPN puts his total at 73 goals in 65 matches. Kane told Marca in an interview:
"The only thing I would say is that last season was incredible, both personally and as a team. By far, it was the best season of my life. But the Ballon d'Or is not in my hands."
The Guardian has Barcelona's Lamine Yamal second in the betting, with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe next. Legit.ng, citing the prediction market Polymarket, gives Kane a 74.3% chance, Yamal 19.8% and Mbappe 4%.
If Kane wins, ESPN notes, he would be the fifth Englishman to win the award, alongside Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen. The Ballon d'Or ceremony is the 70th edition and the first held outside France. London was chosen as a tribute to Matthews, who won the inaugural award in 1956.
Jamie Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column in July: "Based on the past 12 months, Kane should win the Ballon d'Or," but he added that Kane probably would not, because in a World Cup year the award "is bound to go to the star player of the winning nation."
Kane's Bayern teammate Luis Díaz said: "He does everything." England manager Thomas Tuchel also backs him, ESPN reports.
A Bayern Munich post showing Kane in a tuxedo set off talk of a leak about the winner. Marca reports that the post was a promotional teaser for the match against Arsenal, and that it carried the line "The show is about to begin."
The award is due to be announced at the London Palladium on Monday night.
No comments yet