Harry Kane: Bayern Munich striker 'nailed on' for Ballon d'Or if he wins Champions League and World Cup, says Joe Cole

React to this story

Joe Cole believes Harry Kane is a "genius of a footballer" and is "nailed on" for the Ballon d'Or - provided he caps a stunning season with UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup glory.

‘Forget everything else’ - Hargreaves and Cole warn Arsenal defeat vs Man City spells 'trouble'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Kane has been in blistering form for Bayern Munich this season, and his 31 Bundesliga goals place him top of the scoring charts across Europe's top five leagues.

The 32-year-old has 50 goals in all competitions for Bayern, and is the bookies' favourite to land the prestigious end-of-year award, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal also expected to be in the running.

When asked if Kane could wrap up the Ballon d'Or if he leads England to World Cup glory, Cole told TNT Sports: "Absolutely. 50 goals!

Transfers

Salah agreement denied, Bayern make trio available - Euro Transfer News

02/08/2026 at 18:20

"If he wins the Champions League, the Bundesliga, and let's say he wins the World Cup, as well, then he's nailed on.

"Absolutely, stopped the betting. But there is a lot to do. There's a lot to do.

"But what I would say is, it's beautiful to see him doing his thing.

"Two-three years ago, he went out there [to Munich], and people said, 'he's won nothing'. He didn't win anything in his first year.

"But you can't do anything but love Harry Kane. He's just a genius of a footballer. I can see him in the [Champions League] final for Bayern Munich against Arsenal.

"Harry Kane... released by Arsenal as a kid. You can just see that. You can write the headlines."

Watch: Cole on what ‘genius’ Kane must do to be ‘nailed on’ for Ballon d’Or

Video credit: TNT Sports

The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony for the 2026 season is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Owen Hargreaves added: "If he wins those two [Champions League and World Cup], it's his."

Kane has been among the best-performing footballers of the 2025/26 season so far, but he will nonetheless want to convert his individual accolades into collective honours, both with Bayern and England, in the coming months.

He reached a half-century of goals this season for his club in a pulsating 6-4 aggregate win over Real Madrid this week to reach the last four of the Champions League.

‘It feels amazing’ – Kane reacts to ‘crazy’ win over Madrid

Video credit: TNT Sports

The second leg was a contest not without its fair share of drama, with 15-time champions Madrid fuming at Eduardo Camavinga’s late red card that condemned them to defeat, as Luis Diaz and Michael Olise delivered hammer blows with a numerical advantage.

Kane offered little sympathy afterwards, telling reporters: ”I think it was undoubtedly a red card. Taking both matches into account, I believe we deserved to win.

"I also believe that Real Madrid’s goal should not have counted because, early in the game, [Antonio] Rudiger fouled [Konrad] Laimer, but that foul was not called.

"I'm sure they are [fuming], but they have had many things go their way over the years. So yeah, sloppy yellow card for [Camavinga].

"It was very similar to how I got a yellow card last year [in a 3-0 win against Mainz]. I missed a game against RB Leipzig towards the end of the season.

"As a player, you cannot pick the ball up and run away with it when you are on a yellow card. It is a big risk. Obviously, the ref made a decision, and it was nice to get it in our favour."

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max

Serie A

From McFratm to England’s strike force: Which British players will star in Europe’s top leagues?

01/08/2026 at 11:39

Transfers

Real Madrid monitoring former Chelsea utility man - Euro Transfer News

29/07/2026 at 18:00