Harry Kane has arrived at the London Palladium for the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, with the England captain widely tipped as one of the favorites, alongside Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé.
The Bayern Munich striker, 33, is fresh off a remarkable 2025/2026 campaign, which saw him make 64 appearances for club and country, scoring 73 goals and providing eight assists. In the process, the former Tottenham Hotspur stalwart also won the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup with Bayern, whilst personally clinching the league and European Golden Boot.
This summer, Kane helped guide England to its best FIFA World Cup finish since their singular triumph in 1966, beating France 6-4 in the third-place playoff.
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Now back on home soil for Monday's awards ceremony, Kane is aiming to become just the fifth Englishman to be crowned Ballon d'Or winner in 70 years, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.
Speaking upon his arrival, he told DAZN, via the Bundesliga's website, "I'm a little nervous, I'm not going to lie.
"It's different to playing a big match because it's out of my control. You're just waiting to find out who wins. Of course, being here in London, seeing the fans, friends and family, it's a special occasion. I'm just trying to take it all in and enjoy it. Hopefully it'll be a really special night if it goes my way, and it would be an incredibly proud moment if I achieve it."
He added, "There's always more you can do. I look back at last season - it was my best season for sure; it was incredible. I won three trophies with Bayern Munich, was really close to getting to the final of the Champions League and the World Cup.
"Of course, if I'd won those two things, I think it would've been guaranteed, for sure. But that's football. I've always said there's highs and lows. I was extremely proud to reach the numbers, to win the trophies, to play the games I did. We'll have to wait and see what happens."
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Kane also admitted that he felt that this year's award felt different from years gone by, noting how all of the ten finalists had a compelling case after "amazing seasons."
"I'm up there with some of the best players in the world," he said. "You look at the top 10: all players who had amazing seasons, who've got an argument to win it. I think that's what makes this year so special and feels like it's talked about more because I don't think anyone really knows who's going to come out on top. We have to wait and see.
"When you've got the journalists who've voted, it comes down to opinion. Some people may like fast players, skilful players or just goal scorers. From my point of view, I just try to enjoy it because there's nothing I can do now."