Kane: I deserve the ballon d'Or if we exclude the World Cup; I'm not one to publicly demand awards

Last Friday, local time, in an interview with L'Équipe, Kane, the England star currently playing for Bayern Munich, spoke about his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, stating that he deserves it regardless of the World Cup. He also believes that the long wait for a trophy at Tottenham only deepened his desire for a championship.

Before you joined Bayern Munich in 2023, you were criticized for a lack of trophies. But this season you won the DFL-Supercup, the Bundesliga, and the DFB-Pokal. Given the previous wait, are these trophies more precious to you?

Kane: "It's true that I had to be patient in that regard. Compared to players of the same level (during my time at Tottenham), I always felt I had great seasons, but I never managed to help the team cross that threshold. As the seasons went by, my motivation to win trophies grew stronger, and I knew joining Bayern Munich would give me a better chance to do so."

You scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season. If someone had told you last summer that your goal count would reach this number, would you have believed it?

Kane: "I don't know, because that number is indeed very exaggerated. My highest single-season goal tally before was 44 goals (2023-2024 season). When you break 60 goals, you enter a realm that only Messi (73 goals in 2011-2012, 60 goals in 2012-2013) and Cristiano Ronaldo (60 goals in 2011-2012, 61 goals in 2014-2015) have reached in recent years. At that time, their numbers were unimaginable to me as well."

You are increasingly playing as a "false nine" now, and it seems counter-intuitive that you find it easier to score the further away you are from the goal.

Kane: "Perhaps it has to do with Kompany giving me more freedom. In the past few years, I've also learned to enter the penalty area at the right time. When you play as a center forward, sometimes you stand in the box waiting for the attack to develop, making it easier to be marked. But when I occasionally play as an 8 or even a 6, I can suddenly burst into space, making it difficult for defenders to track me."

Does your efficiency in front of goal this season also come from the stimulus of competition? Because last autumn, Haaland and Mbappé had as many goals as you.

Kane: "Indeed, the three of us had a very good start to the season. I know their statistics, but that's not what makes me obsessed with surpassing them. If I break 60 goals, it's just because I haven't had a low point this year, and I've been very consistent."

This also earned you your second European Golden Shoe.

Kane (interrupting): "It's an honor, especially since, as far as I know, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have won it more times (Ronaldo 4 times, Messi 6 times)."

You seem very familiar with all the statistics of these historic goalscorers.

Kane: "Yes, I like to motivate myself with these statistics (laughs). But this award also reminds me that none of this would be possible without my teammates, the coaching staff, and everyone who supports me."

The World Cup starts on June 11th. As England captain, what are your goals?

Kane: "The goal is, of course, to win the trophy. That has to be our goal. Although it's difficult, we've come very close in recent years: two European Championship finals (2021, 2024), one World Cup semi-final (2018), and one quarter-final (2022). This year we have a new coach (Tuchel) and new players, which is exciting but also a lot of pressure."

How do you deal with the huge external expectations in major tournaments?

Kane: "The key is to create a 'bubble' during the competition, away from the outside noise. There will always be commentators, media, podcasts, and if you listen to all of it, you'll break down. So, you have to clearly define your goals and build a stable environment in the camp that won't collapse after one defeat. But ultimately, it's still the same: you can say a lot before the match, the real difference is on the pitch."

This is your first major tournament with Tuchel. What is your relationship with him like?

Kane: "The relationship is very good, and it was established earliest at Bayern Munich. One of the important reasons I joined Bayern Munich was him (he left in the summer of 2024). At Bayern Munich, I really liked his personality, his tactical philosophy, and the way he let me play. In a way, he brought these methods to the England team."

Does he tell you in advance about selection or non-selection decisions for the squad?

Kane: "No. We only had a brief conversation in winter, and after that, we occasionally exchanged messages wishing each other luck, but we never discussed the squad. He just called to tell me I was selected."

That's not a surprise for you, is it?

Kane: "Yes (laughs). He just wanted to make it official. The World Cup is a big deal, and even though I expected it, I was still happy to get the call. The day I'm not called up will be difficult."

How do you balance the selfishness of a striker with the responsibility of a captain?

Kane: "It's indeed difficult. A striker's job is to score goals, and if you don't score, it's hard to be in a position to demand things from others. But as a leader, you have to make everyone around you perform their best."

Do you imagine yourself lifting the World Cup trophy?

Kane: "I mostly use visualization to prepare for matches, such as imagining the pitch, opponents, positions, and opportunities. But if I said I've never thought about lifting the World Cup, that wouldn't be honest."

If England wins the World Cup, would you be a favorite for the Ballon d'Or?

Kane: "Of course, I would be one of the favorites. If I have goals and trophies, I'll be in contention. And if England wins the World Cup, the Ballon d'Or might lean towards an English player."

If the award were given now, without considering the World Cup, do you think you deserve it?

Kane: "I think so. Looking at the current list of favorites, there's Olise, there are players participating in the Champions League final, and there's me. But I'm not the kind of person who would publicly say I 'must win the award,' I prefer to let my performance speak for itself."

What does the Ballon d'Or mean to you?

Kane: "I wouldn't say I dreamed of it as a child. But in my teenage years, when I started to seriously understand football, it was during the era when Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi monopolized this award, and that's when I realized its significance."

Do you know that this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26th?

Kane: "I do. I think that might be a good sign (laughs). It would be very special to win an award in the city where I was born."

What records might you break during the World Cup?

Kane: "The most exciting one is the World Cup finals goal record (held by Klose, 16 goals), but I'm still far from it (8 goals). However, I might break the record for most World Cup goals by an England player (Lineker, 10 goals). If I do that, it also means the team has gone very far."

Is this constant chasing of records an endless cycle?

Kane: "It's how I stay motivated and keep improving. That's just the kind of person I am. In fact, I can say in advance that next season I'll try to score more goals, more than 61 (laughs)."