Harry Kane says he would choose a Champions League winner’s medal over the Ballon d’Or, despite describing his recent award as one of the best moments of his career. The Bayern Munich striker made the comments before the club’s Champions League match against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital.
“The Ballon d'Or last week was one of the best feelings I've had in my life and my career,” Kane said. “But to have moments with the team, celebrations with the club - to be able to lift the Champions League with Bayern would be an incredible feeling.”
Asked to choose between the two honours, the England captain said he would pick the Champions League, while adding that he still had the opportunity to win both. He said team trophies and shared moments with teammates were central to why players compete.
Kane became the first Englishman since 2001 to win the Ballon d’Or, beating Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. He is the fifth English winner, joining Michael Owen, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. Bayern and their supporters also celebrated his award before Saturday’s match against Borussia Dortmund.
The striker said the period since the ceremony had been a “rollercoaster”, with highs and lows that he felt had brought the team closer together. He scored 73 goals for club and country last season as Bayern won a domestic treble.
Kane also said he was “extremely close” to signing a new Bayern contract. He described recent discussions as positive, saying that the main terms had been settled but that smaller details remained for lawyers to resolve. He expected the process to take days rather than weeks and said an agreement could be reached within the next few days.
Bayern have been without head coach Vincent Kompany, who was taken to hospital after collapsing during a training session with the reserve team on 23 October. He was discharged five days later and is continuing his recovery, with no return date established. Assistant Aaron Danks has taken charge of first-team duties in his absence. Kane said the squad missed their coach but were coping and had opportunities to prove themselves.
Sources: BBC Sport.