Harry Kane has played down the prospect of an immediate Premier League return after winning the Ballon d’Or, though he stopped short of closing the door completely. The 33-year-old England captain beat Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to be named the world’s best player at the London Palladium on Monday night, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to win the award.
It capped an extraordinary year. The Bayern Munich striker, who is also Spurs’ all-time record goalscorer, scored 73 goals in 65 games as his club won the Bundesliga and cup double. He added 14 goals in the Champions League as Bayern reached the semi-finals, then netted six at the World Cup as England went the same distance. This season he already has 16 goals and nine assists in 16 appearances for club and country.
Kane left Tottenham for Germany in the summer of 2023 after rising through the academy and scoring 280 goals for the club. His 213 Premier League goals leave him 47 short of Alan Shearer’s record. With Spurs fans forever dreaming of his return, and the club reportedly holding matching rights if anyone bids for him, he was asked at the post-ceremony press conference whether he might come back to England once his Bayern chapter ends.
His answer was that it isn’t on his mind right now. He said he is loving life in Munich, praised Bayern as a great club with an amazing squad and coach, and stressed that his focus and happiness are there. Winning an award like this, he added, shows why he made the move in the first place.
He did leave room for the future, though, saying he still has ambitions and dreams to chase. Winning the Champions League at club level is one, and a major trophy with England is his number one priority. Experience has taught him that you don’t have much control over how things unfold, so you back your decisions, as he did in moving to Germany, and go all in. For now that means Munich, and he will see where it leads.
Kane also paid tribute to Tottenham in his acceptance speech, saying he wouldn’t be where he is without the club. He joined at 11, and he thanked those who guided him and let him live his dream, along with everyone who shared the ups and downs of the journey to this moment.
He extended his thanks to Bayern, England and Spurs supporters around the world for their backing in stadiums everywhere. Having been a fan himself not long ago, he said, he knows what football means, and being able to give something back is an honour and a privilege.
