Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has paid a glowing tribute to ex-Spurs colleague Harry Kane after the Bayern Munich striker lifted the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London on Monday night. Having shared a dressing room for a decade in north London, the French veteran praised the England captain's complete game and grounded personality.
World Cup winner salutes striker
Lloris was thrilled to watch his long-time attacking partner claim football's top individual prize alongside the Gerd Muller Trophy at the London Palladium on October 26. Now 33, the Englishman beat Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal to become his country's first winner in 25 years. That accolade followed a 73-goal campaign, a Bundesliga title and a World Cup third-place finish with England.
Decade together forged lasting respect
After Kane rose through the Spurs ranks in 2009 and completed several loan spells, he became a permanent first-team colleague of Lloris - who arrived in August 2012 - from mid-2013 until joining Bayern in August 2023. The 39-year-old shot-stopper subsequently moved to Los Angeles FC in December 2023.
Speaking to L'Equipe, the former France captain lauded his ex-colleague's all-round development: "I'm happy for him. It's great to see a former team-mate win the Ballon d'Or, at home in London. He has an extraordinarily complete skill set, which he has honed season after season. Today, he can do everything: short passes, long passes, tackling, tracking back to defend, and he is undoubtedly the best player in the penalty area."
Selfless attitude sets forward apart
Unlike many elite stars, the striker never courted media campaigns to boost his credentials, a trait that impressed Lloris deeply as he compared him to previous winners Ousmane Dembele and Karim Benzema.
Reflecting on the forward's character and team ethic, Lloris added: "He doesn't chase the limelight. He owes this Ballon d'Or to his sheer professionalism and humility. He is a role model in our sport.
"Ousmane Dembele's Ballon d'Or previously rewarded a team-first player, just like Karim Benzema in 2022. Harry is far more than just a goalscoring machine."
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