Harry Kane became the fifth Englishman in football history to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday evening after being crowned the 2026 winner in London.
The Bayern Munich striker managed to beat Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to the award after scoring 73 goals in all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign.
Kane thanked many of his current and past managers, including Jose Mourinho, in his acceptance speech. He said:
“I want to give a shoutout to some of my coaches who have helped me along the way, and if I’ve forgot anyone, I'm really sorry, but I'll start from early days. Bradley Allen, Chris Ramsey, John McDermott - who's here tonight; Alex Inglethorpe, Tim Sherwood, and Ryan Mason - who's here tonight, one of my best friends; Kenny Jackett, Russell Slade, Harry Redknapp, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and then Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, and of course, my two managers, Vinnie and Thomas now.
“All you played a big role in my development, all at different stages in my life, and without each and every one of you, I wouldn't be standing here today. For sure, I learned lots and when you surround yourself with the best people, with the best coaches, it only improves you as a person and, and as a player, so thank you very much.
Jose Mourinho and Harry Kane's Conversation in First Ever Meeting
The conversation that Mourinho and Kane had in their first ever meeting at Tottenham Hotspur has now re-emerged and gone viral again on X (formerly Twitter) following the Englishman's Ballon d'Or triumph.
The meeting took place after Mourinho was appointed Tottenham manager in 2019 and featured on Amazon's sports documentary 'All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur'.
The Portuguese promised the English star that he would 'explode' with him, while Kane said he has ambitions to get to the top of world football and match Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Mourinho started: "I believe that you have a very good relationship with Mauricio [Pochettino], I love that. I always think, good relationship with the previous manager. Why not me?
"I saw you training yesterday and I have no doubts that you are a leader. That is my feeling. The world looks to English football with incredible respect, but they still think that the movie stars of football belong to other places.
"We have to build your status in that direction. My profile, I am a little bit like that as a coach. My dimension is universal and by being with me, I think I can help you to… [makes explosion gesture]."
Key Events Timeline
November 2019 — Tottenham sacked Mauricio Pochettino and appointed Jose Mourinho, who immediately met Harry Kane.
August 2020 — Amazon's 'All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur' aired Mourinho's promise that Kane would explode.
April 2021 — Spurs sacked Mourinho trophyless, six days before the League Cup final.
August 2023 — Kane left boyhood club Tottenham for Bayern Munich in a record German transfer.
May 2025 — Kane won the Bundesliga, claiming the first major trophy of his career.
Kane responded: "Yes, that's my aim. When you're at a club like Tottenham, of course, we've done well, and personally, I've done well, but I want to be... Ronaldo, Messi."
Mourinho then added: "What I don’t accept, because it is my nature, is to be here and win nothing. But I feel that we can because of you. You have better players than I had at Manchester United. The club has a lot [of potential] to explode."
Eight years on from that conversation and Kane, now 33 years old, has finally reached the very top of world football by winning the Ballon d'Or. Mourinho played a big role in him achieving that feat.