Football London

Roberto De Zerbi weighs in on Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe's Ballon d'Or race  Football London

The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on Monday and former Tottenham striker Harry Kane is the favourite to win the award

Harry Kane is the favourite for the Ballon d'Or and could become the first Englishman to win the prestigious award in 25 years on Monday night.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has reached new heights since competing the move to Bayern Munich three years ago for a fee in the region of £100million. Kane graduated from Spurs' academy to become the club's' all-time top goalscorer, netting 280 goals in 435 appearances.

Kane’s haul of 73 goals for club and county during the 2025-26 campaign has meant he is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, although he will face competition from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. The awards, which were first created by French magazine France Football in 1956, have traditionally taken place in Paris, but will be hosted at Palladium Theatre to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the individual accolade.

Only four players from England have received the Ballon d’Or and Kane is aiming to become the fifth. Speaking after Kane scored in Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday, the London-born England captain said: “I try not to think about it.

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“Obviously it is hard not to. There are always rumours and stuff flying around so you try to stay away from it. I think my wife would prefer to know and my family.”

Even though Kane has consistently stayed coy over his prospects of following in the footsteps of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen by being crowned the latest receipt of the Ballon d’Or, notable key figures in the sport have backed him to claim individual success in London, including England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Former England forward Gary Lineker backed Kane earlier this month, saying: “What Harry Kane has done is truly incredible. I would love to see him win it. It would be very well deserved and it is either going to be him or Lamine Yamal.”

Yamal helped Spain to World Cup success this summer and starred in Barcelona’s La Liga title win, while Kane inspired Bayern to Bundesliga and German Cup success along with a run to the Champions League semi-finals. Kane scored six goals to help England finish third at the World Cup and old Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino believes his former forward should receive the accolade.

“My wish, I hope yes,” Pochettino said of Kane. "I think he deserves it as the reward for his career and for all what he has done in football. For me, it’s Harry Kane’s time.”

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"I think we deserved to win. The players worked very well, prepared very well the game. This morning, yesterday, all days in the last week and the qualities of the players are very clear.

"I'm happy for the spirit of the players. I think we have to change the last part of the history of our club. I would like to follow in this way."

On fight spiriting: "Football is the quality of the play, the quality of the players, for sure, but it is a competition. It is a fight. You have to run, you have to fight, you have to arrive first to the second ball. You have to win the duels and we did."

On tactics: "We knew Chelsea play very well, they have clear organisation, clear structure on the pitch. We prepared our players with two midfielders and James Maddison with freedom, where he smells the right position."

On James Maddison injury: "He played very well while he was on the pitch then [Conor] Gallagher played with different characteristics. Different style but he played very well.

"James is a different player. He feels football, he understands football. It is easier for me when you have a player of his talent.

"I think it is not a big problem. We have to see."

On Mathys Tel: "Mathys needs to play to understand football, become calmer but he is a big talent."

On confidence after a big win: "I think it is important for the players to belief more in themselves because their qualities are very high. We are happy for the fans, first of all, because we know what it means to beat Chelsea and for the club as well.

"In the last years they suffered, like the fans, they believe in this project, in this group and I'm happy for them."

Roberto De Zerbi gives update on James Maddison after fresh Tottenham injury blow  Football London

Every word Roberto De Zerbi said on special Tottenham meeting, Maddison injury, Fernandes and Tel  Football London