Ahead of England’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia at Wembley, Harry Kane is set to present his Ballon d’Or trophy to the England fans in attendance, as it is the first match for the Three Lions since Kane won the honor in London at the end of last month. It is a momentous opportunity for the England skipper to showcase what is arguably the greatest achievement of his career thus far in front of his country’s home fans in one of the most iconic venues in the nation’s capital.
The occasion
comes right on the heels of the striker having signed a contract extension with Bayern Munich that will keep him at the club through 2029. In addition to the extension, Kane has temporarily turned from finisher to provider, tallying five assists from Bayern’s last four matches across all competitions. He has also set a Bundesliga record by tallying eight league assists from only nine match weeks—a stat line that showcases his ability to be an all-around player as opposed to just a goal scorer.
Ahead of England’s Nations League match against Croatia, Kane expressed elation at being given the opportunity to share in the emotional joy of winning the Ballon d’Or with all of the England fans at Wembley and to have the physical trophy there with him.
“It’s definitely up there with the biggest achievements of my career. I think it showcases consistency at the highest level, and I think any great player wants to be able to perform year on year. To reach the number of caps I have is a testament to the things I spoke about in my Ballon d’Or speech, all the stuff behind the scenes, the dedication, and for sure it is one of the biggest milestones of my career,” Kane reveled to Goal (via @iMiaSanMia).
“The Ballon d’Or is still in Munich, but I’m hoping it will be there tomorrow. I think everyone is extremely proud that I won it. For me personally, it’s great to see the boys and people that helped me win it. It’s been amazing for Bayern Munich, England, and English fans. It’s been incredible—just grateful for all of the support,” Bayern and England’s number 9 continued.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who previously worked with Kane at Bayern during his brief tenure as manager there, shared in the excitement regarding the opportunity for Kane to present the Ballon d’Or trophy at Wembley on a night when he will reach 126 matches for England. “It’s a big occasion to present the Ballon d’Or to our fans, bring it to the country, and have it on the same day when he gets his all-time record for 126 matches. It’s a beautiful, beautiful occasion,” Tuchel raved.
From a purely footballing perspective, Kane, Tuchel, and the rest of the England squad will be hoping the striker picks up right where he left off with the national team. During the last international break, Kane scored in all four of the Nations League matches against Spain, Czechia (twice), and Croatia. In total, from those four matches, he tallied six goals and one assist.
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