Kane: This is my best chance of winning the Ballon d'Or

Harry Kane believes this is the best chance of his career to win the Ballon d'Or after a sensational season with Bayern Munich and England. 

Kane is among the top contenders to lift the prestigious individual accolade next month, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe also in contention. 

The England captain plundered 65 across all competitions for Bayern before scoring six more to help Thomas Tuchel's side finish third at this summer's World Cup. 

No other player from Europe's top five leagues scored more than 50 goals in all competitions last term, with Mbappe his closest challenger with a half-century for Madrid. 

Kane is hoping to become the fifth English player to win the Ballon d'Or and the first since Michael Owen in 2001. Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and Kevin Keegan (1978 and 1979) had previously claimed the award.

And ahead of England's clash with Spain in their Nations League opener, Kane insisted he could have done nothing more in his attempt to try and lift the Ballon d'Or. 

"Best chance right now, yeah, whether that's in the future as well. We'll have to wait and see, but I think yes, so far in my career, it is the best chance without a doubt," Kane said.

"I think I spoke quite openly last season from a personal point of view. 

"It was my best year without a doubt, but also, from a team point of you was my best in terms of trophies and performances. It's something that would be amazing to win.

"I know there's been a lot of talk about it, and I'm sure it will be over the next month until it's announced and that's part and parcel of it. 

"I'd be extremely proud to win it. I think I've done a lot of great things that I'm proud of last year for sure. 

"But like I keep saying, ultimately, it's down to other people now and their opinion on it. The players and their opinion on last season, so we'll have to wait and see what happens.

"I know it won't be the last time I talk about it, but yeah, there's still another month or so to go. My focus is on trying to help this team get a good win against Spain."

Kane will be hoping to improve his Ballon d'Or chances against a Spain side that are unbeaten in each of their last 38 matches in all competitions (W29 D9), the longest ever streak by a European nation following their World Cup success.

The Three Lions have won just two of their last 13 games against the reigning World Cup holders, losing nine times (D2). Those wins came at home to Spain in November 2011 (1-0) and away to Germany in March 2016 (3-2).

Jude Bellingham will also be keen to make an impact. The Real Madrid star has scored seven goals in 10 appearances for England in 2026. The last midfielder with more goals in a calendar year for the Three Lions was David Platt in 1993 (eight).

And his performances were recognised as he scooped the England Men's Player of the Year award for the second year running. Only Wayne Rooney (four) has won the award more times than Bellingham (two, level with Kane, Bukayo Saka, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard).