Harry Kane’s brilliance has never been in doubt, but until 2025, the star lived with a stigma that was "unfair," if not downright cruel.
Despite being considered one of the most lethal strikers of his generation, he had never won an official trophy in his 15-year professional career.
Today, the reality is very different. Now wearing Bayern Munich’s number nine shirt, the Englishman has become a serial trophy winner and, on Monday (26), reached the pinnacle of individual achievement by winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
At the ceremony in London, Kane beat stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, capping a historic season in which he scored a staggering 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country.
In his speech, the striker thanked his teammates, recalled his Tottenham days and shared a message about overcoming adversity.
"To achieve your dreams, you have to work hard when no one is watching. My journey hasn’t been a straight line; I’ve had ups and downs. I hope my story can inspire others," he said.
The end of the "curse" in Germany
Kane’s journey toward silverware began with a scare. Signed by Bayern Munich for a huge fee in 2023, the Englishman watched the German club, which had won 11 consecutive Bundesliga titles, finish the entire 2023/24 season empty-handed.
His breakthrough finally came in May 2025, when he won his first German league title.
From there, the floodgates opened: the German Cup followed, along with two more Supercups (in August 2025 and August 2026) and a second consecutive Bundesliga title last season, with Kane finishing as top scorer in most of those campaigns.
The only unfinished business for Kane remains with England, following recent disappointments as European Championship runners-up and World Cup semifinal exits.
Ending historic droughts
Kane’s triumph also ended some significant droughts. He became only the sixth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.
His victory was also widely celebrated in Germany, where no player from a domestic club had won the top award since Matthias Sammer of Borussia Dortmund in 1996.
For Bayern Munich, the wait had been even longer: the Bavarian club’s last winner was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 45 years ago, in 1981.
In a statement, German league CEOs Marc Lenz and Steffen Merkel celebrated the achievement.
The Bundesliga also paid tribute by projecting images of the striker onto London landmarks.
"Harry Kane is one of the most outstanding players of his generation and embodies an extraordinary commitment to excellence," the league concluded.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.