England captain and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane reveals the trophy he MUST win to stand any chance of winning the Ballon d’Or

Harry Kane believes England profitable the World Cup would give him each probability of being awarded the Ballon d’Or.

The Bayern Munich striker has 23 targets from 17 matches for his membership this season and three from 4 for his nation. He’s at present third favorite for subsequent yr’s prize behind Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

Nevertheless, Kane is aware of that his odds of taking such a prestigious particular person honour will shorten significantly if he can lead England to glory in North America.

‘I might rating 100 targets this season but when I don’t win the Champions League or World Cup, you’re in all probability not going to win the Ballon d’Or,’ stated Kane, who will captain England in opposition to Albania right here in Tirana on Sunday night.

‘It’s the identical with (Erling) Haaland or any participant. It’s important to be profitable these main trophies. With the best way the season goes with Bayern Munich, it appears to be like like we’re in nice form. It appears to be like like we’re one of many favourites for the Champions League. It’s the identical with England. I believe we’re going to enter the event as one of many favourites.’

Kane acknowledges that his personal kind and health light heading into Euro 2024, however there may be hope {that a} winter break in Germany will support him and England come the summer time.

Kane is aiming to grow to be the primary Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001

‘I’ve bought six extra weeks earlier than I get a pleasant break,’ he stated. ‘The opposite aspect of that, that’s when the main target begins to show to the top of the season, the massive video games and the summer time itself. I’m feeling good. That break will assist and, hopefully, if issues go my approach for membership and nation then I’m undoubtedly going to be within the dialog for a trophy just like the Ballon D’Or.’

Kane added: ‘I do know there was a whole lot of speak about the place I used to be bodily going into the final event, particularly. And if I examine it to how I really feel now, I might say I am undoubtedly fitter and sharper. That was perhaps off the again of a few little accidents that I picked up in direction of the top of the season.

‘I do not assume it is a matter of fatigue. I believe it is extra making an attempt to not decide up knocks, particularly now being within the Bundesliga and never having that Premier League grind via the winter.

‘I really feel pretty much as good as I’ve ever felt now. I spend a whole lot of time and dedication making an attempt to be as match as doable all yr spherical, as a result of the season is just about all yr spherical now. It is simply making an attempt to peak at that proper time and hopefully we are able to get that proper in the summertime.’

The striker has been in sensational kind for Bayern Munich this season, scoring 23 targets in 17 video games throughout all competitions

Kane has additionally loved an important yr in entrance of aim for England, scoring seven targets in his eight appearances in 2025

In the meantime, Kane has revealed that England are working from an NFL-style playbook of their bid to achieve a bonus from set-pieces.

‘Set-pieces are huge,’ he stated. ‘I do know it’s not the prettiest a part of the sport, however we’ve at all times been large on set-plays, each defending and attacking. I really feel like we’re getting in some actually good routines, attacking-wise.

‘We need to construct a e book of set-plays, like an NFL playbook, in a approach the place you have a look at the opposition and see if they’re zonal or man-marking and we are able to decide what we need to do.

‘In the end, the most effective workforce at set-plays usually go on to be the most effective workforce within the event. They go on to have clear sheets, they go on to the latter levels, and we did that in 2018 and 2022.’