Harry Kane makes Ballon d’Or prediction, targets World Cup glory with England – ‘I'll be in that conversation’

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Harry Kane has outlined ambitions that stretch beyond FIFA World Cup success, revealing his belief that international glory with England could also place him firmly in contention for the Ballon d’Or.

'I felt like it was my responsibility' - Kane reacts to stunning hat-trick in DFB-Pokal final

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The England captain arrived this week at the pre-tournament warm-weather camp in Florida on the back of a remarkable season with Bayern Munich, where he scored 61 goals in all competitions.

Kane delivered a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final as Vincent Kompany’s side secured a domestic double, and his consistent form carries England's hopes as they prepare for another bid to end their 60-year wait for major tournament success.

Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of joining up with the squad, Kane addressed his chances of being officially recognised among football’s elite.

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"The Ballon d'Or if we win the World Cup? I'd probably say I'll be up there for sure," he stated.

"With the season I've had, I think with winning the three trophies, the numbers I've reached, I think I'll be in that conversation.

"Especially since, if England win the World Cup, we could imagine the trophy going to an English player.

"When you look at some of the past winners of the Ballon d'Or, for sure, it comes down to the big games, the big tournaments, and you add that on top of what I've achieved this year, I think I'll be up there."

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker acknowledged the strength of the wider field of contenders, adding: "I think you're starting to hear the noise about the players who are maybe favourites for the Ballon d'Or at the moment, maybe me and Michael [Olise] and some of the players who were Champions League finalists.

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"So it's been an incredible season. I'm not the type of guy who wants to say I deserve the Ballon d'Or. I try and do my talking on the pitch."

England's campaign begins on June 17 against Croatia in Dallas, but they will play in two World Cup warm-up games, first against New Zealand on June 6 and then versus Costa Rica on June 10.

Kane previously played under England boss Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, and he holds clear admiration for the man tasked with masterminding a first World Cup triumph on foreign soil.

"At Bayern, I loved his personality, his ideas for the team, and the way he got me playing. In a way, he brought those methods to the national team," Kane continued.

Kane: Winning World Cup is our only goal

Tuchel is charged with guiding England beyond a series of near misses in recent tournaments, as expectations build once again around a squad that has come close but not yet delivered a major trophy.

Kane remained clear about the scale of the challenge, but equally firm on the team's intent in North America.

"The ambition is to win it [the World Cup], obviously, that has to be our goal," said Kane.

"We know it will be difficult, but we have been close in recent years to winning a major tournament - we reached two Euro finals [in 2021 and 2024], a semi-final [in 2018] and a quarter-final [in 2022] of the World Cup."

Building on the progress made under Gareth Southgate is Tuchel's only remit, armed with a refreshed 26-man squad that drew a few raised eyebrows due to several high-profile omissions - but Kane struck a note of cautious optimism as preparations intensify.

"This year, we will have a new coach, new players. It is exciting - even if this kind of competition generates a lot of pressure," said Kane.

Kane has also set his sights on further history, with England’s all-time leading goalscorer targeting Gary Lineker's long-standing national scoring record at World Cup tournaments as he weighs up the possibility of surpassing one of the game's greatest benchmarks.

While no European player has scored more knockout goals in both the World Cup and Euros than Kane, the striker admitted the all-time World Cup record of 16 held by Germany's Miroslav Klose remains some way off.

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Instead, he is focused on a more immediate milestone: becoming England's leading scorer in World Cup history.

"The one for me would be amazing, but I'm a little bit far away at the moment. It's the most World Cup goals," said Kane.

"But maybe the most World Cup goals by an English player. It's 10 by Gary Lineker, and I'm on eight right now. So if I have a good World Cup, I'll be able to pass Lineker in that aspect.

"These are all little things that would be great to do along the way. If we're breaking those records, it means the team's doing well and we're probably winning games.

"So that's the most important thing."

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