England manager Thomas Tuchel has thrown his weight behind captain Harry Kane to become the next Ballon d’Or winner.
The German tactician further claimed that he is improving every day and can lead the attack line in the upcoming World Cup at 36 years old.
The Bayern Munich striker has scored 73 goals for his club and national team in a spectacular 2025-26 season, where he won the Bundesliga, German Cup, and the German Super Cup.
He even won a bronze medal 10 weeks back when England forgot about their heartbreaking defeat against Argentina in the semifinals and ended their World Cup campaign with the best-ever result abroad.
All this has made him the favorite of the oddsmakers to be the first Englishman who wins the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
Tuchel was unequivocal when asked on ITV if Kane is the clear favorite: “Yeah. After this season, yeah.
“Seventy-plus goals, three titles with Bayern Munich, semifinals at the World Cup and in the Champions League.
“He’s getting better and better. I think he added a level of physicality to his match.
“He’s just so committed to high press and so committed to being involved in every part of the match.
“Be it in deep build-up, be it in finishing, be it in build-up play in the middle block, be it in defending. It’s just the full package.”
Kane is the all-time leading goal scorer for England and would become level with Peter Shilton’s record for the men’s team of 125 caps if he plays all four Nations League games during this training period.
The squad under Tuchel begins their campaign with the match against Spain at Wembley on Saturday, who beat Sir Gareth Southgate’s men to win Euro 2024 and have gone on to lift this summer’s World Cup trophy.
