Kane says he would trade Ballon d'Or for Champions League winner's medal

On 2 November 2026, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane told reporters in Madrid, ahead of Bayern's Champions League fixture with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital, that he would swap his Ballon d'Or trophy for a Champions League winner's medal. He also said he expects to sign a new contract with Bayern "within the next few days".

Kane, 33, became the first Englishman since 2001 to win the Ballon d'Or, finishing ahead of Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal. The award was presented at a ceremony in London and made Kane the fifth English winner after Michael Owen, Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. Bayern and their supporters paid tribute to him before Saturday's Der Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund; the club had not had a Ballon d'Or winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham in August 2023 for £86.4m (100m euros).

On the balance between individual and team honours, Kane said: "Team trophies are why we play football. The team aspect of our sport is really, really important." He added: "The Ballon d'Or last week was one of the best feelings I've had in my life and my career." Kane then linked the personal honour to collective aims: "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."

Asked to choose between the European Cup and the Ballon d'Or, Kane said: "I would choose the Champions League, but I have the opportunity to do both - let's see what happens." He also commented on the value of the award to his status and ambitions: "The Ballon d'Or is a highlight, it puts me on an even bigger level, but you want to have these big finals, the Champions League, having that feeling of emotion with your team-mates as well."

Reflecting on the period since the ceremony, Kane said: "It's been a rollercoaster since the celebrations." He noted his on-field return to form last season, when he scored 73 goals for club and country and helped Bayern secure a domestic treble. "It was a huge high for me, but also for the club. It was one of the best feelings I've ever had in my life, without a doubt," he added, while also acknowledging difficulties: "But we've had some lows and a lot of extremes we've had to deal with. It's brought us closer together and we fight for every moment."

On his contract situation Kane said there had been "good conversations" in recent days and that he was "extremely close" to putting pen to paper. He said: "A lot of the bigger stuff has been ironed out and we are happy with." He described remaining work on finer points: "But in every contract there are loads of little things that go into it, small details that in the end the lawyers have to thrash out and figure out." He added: "So all in all I would say it is more days than weeks. From what I have heard, the conversations have gone well again today. Hopefully we will be in a place to do something within the next few days."

Bayern's preparations have been affected by the absence of head coach Vincent Kompany, who was taken to hospital after collapsing during a training session involving the reserve team on 23 October and was discharged five days later; no definitive return date has been established. Assistant Aaron Danks has overseen first-team duties in Kompany's absence, and Kane acknowledged the challenge: "We're missing our coach, but everyone has the opportunity to prove themselves and there's a long way to go."

Kane's comments were made immediately before Bayern's Champions League match with Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital.