Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or and became the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001. After that historic night, the Bayern Munich and England striker sat down with French newspaper
L’Equipe, and offered a light-hearted but revealing answer when asked which quality from another Ballon d’Or winner he would most like to steal.
Without hesitation, Kane pointed to Lionel Messi’s left foot. “If I could have Messi’s left foot, I think it would be VERY HARD TO STOP ME!” he said with a smile. His answer quickly spread across social media, paired with side-by-side images of Kane and Messi holding golden trophies.
🚨🚨🎙️| Harry Kane on what he’s missing:
“If I could have Messi’s left foot, I think it would be 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐌𝐄!” 🐐
[@lequipe] https://t.co/nRbqGvqLne
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) November 2, 2026
Harry Kane, who is 33 now also said that he has never felt more complete as a player. He spoke about his understanding of space, his ability to drag defenders out of position, his movement, and his finishing all being at the highest level of his career. Though he feels physically and mentally strong, Kane still sees room to grow and admits he will keep chasing improvements until the day he retires.
The England captain has never been a pure dribbler who beats three or four men in tight spaces. His game is built on intelligence, timing, and clinical finishing. Adding Messi’s magical close control and ability to manipulate the ball under pressure would, in his view, turn an already elite striker into something almost unplayable.
Harry Kane’s 2026 season ends with Ballon d’Or award
Harry Kane’s 2026 season was the defining year of his career and the reason he finally won the Ballon d’Or. Playing for Bayern Munich, the England captain put up an extraordinary campaign of relentless goalscoring and leadership, finishing with a remarkable 73 goals across all competitions. He edged out Kylian Mbappe in the voting to become the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen.
While a section of fans on social media simply enjoyed the humility of a player who has just been crowned the best in the world still openly admiring another great. The comment from the England captain also carries a huge respect for Messi’s lasting influence. Even after eight Ballons d’Or of his own and with Kane now holding the latest one, the Argentine’s unique technical gifts remain the gold standard for many players. Kane’s words reveal a champion who understands both his strengths and the gaps that still exist.
