New Delhi, Oct 27: Indian cricket star Virat Kohli on Tuesday congratulated England football captain Harry Kane on winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or, describing the striker as a resilient and hard-working player who deserves "every bit" of the honour.
Kohli, who endorses the same sports apparel brand as Kane, took to microblogging website to express his admiration for the footballer's journey and achievements.
"Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you've carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you," Kohli wrote.
"God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you would be of your own journey. My best wishes always. Congratulations," he added.
The 33-year-old Kane led England to a third-place finish in the World Cup this year and scored 73 goals across club and international competitions.
The striker was also instrumental in Bayern Munich's trophy-winning campaign, helping the German club secure a double by winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup this season.
Kane became the first English player in more than two decades to win the Ballon d'Or. Michael Owen was the last English footballer to receive the honour in 2001.
Kane's competition for the prestigious individual award included several prominent footballers, including Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.
Established in 1956, the Ballon d'Or is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious individual honours in international football. The award is decided through voting by selected international journalists, with one representative from each eligible nation.
PTI