Kane reveals he would trade Ballon d'Or for UEFA Champions League success
Harry Kane is yet to score since pipping Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to the 2026 Ballon d'Or last week. The Bayern Munich forward drew blanks in Bundesliga meetings with Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund, and also missed a penalty in the 2-2 draw with Niko Kovac's side at the weekend.
Kane will hope to avoid a third successive goalless outing when Bayern take on Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. The England captain has scored in 10 straight UEFA Champions League appearances following his effort against Arsenal last month, and will match Cristiano Ronaldo's 11-goal run should he add to his four European goals this term against Atletico on Matchday 4.
Kane is seeking to further justify his Ballon d'Or success as Bayern strive to end a seven-year wait to win a major piece of European silverware. Despite securing individual glory, the 33-year-old revealed ahead of a tough game in Madrid that he would trade his Ballon d'Or for a Champions League title.
"Team trophies are why we play football. The team aspect of our sport is really, really important," said Kane.
"The Ballon d'Or last week was one of the best feelings I've had in my life and my career, but to have moments with the team, celebrations with the club, to be able to lift the Champions League with Bayern would be an incredible feeling. Of course the Ballon d'Or is a highlight; it puts me on an even higher level, but you want to have these big finals, the Champions League, having that feeling of emotion with your teammates as well.
I would choose the Champions League, but I have the opportunity to do both." Kane won the Ballon d'Or by just 28 points ahead of Real Madrid and France forward Kylian Mbappe. "Since the Ballon d'Or there's been a great reaction - perhaps because my journey has been a bit different from some of the other winners; people didn't expect me to reach the level I'm at now," said Kane.
"But through hard work, determination, and resilience, I've been able to do it."
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone lavished praise upon Kane ahead of Tuesday's clash at the Wanda Metropolitano.
"I consider him an incredible player," the Argentine began. "I have always liked him, I have no doubt that, with the growth and maturity he has had over the years, he has found better places to play up front without moving away from what he does very well, which is scoring goals.
He looks committed to the work, to getting the team out from the back."