Owen Backs Kane for Ballon d’Or Glory After World Cup Heroics
Passing the Torch: Owen Backs Kane for Ballon d’Or Glory After World Cup Heroics
For a quarter of a century, Michael Owen has held a lonely distinction in modern English football history. Since hoisting the Golden Ball in 2001 following a historic treble with Liverpool, no English player has managed to replicate his feat. However, as the dust settles on the 2026 World Cup in North America, Owen believes the 25-year drought is finally about to end, pointing directly to England captain Harry Kane as his rightful successor.
Owen, who has long been vocal about the elite mindset required to win football’s ultimate individual prize, has watched England’s World Cup campaign under Thomas Tuchel with a keen tactical eye. While Owen previously made headlines with his “radical plan” urging Tuchel to aggressively rotate his creative midfielders to conquer the grueling North American heat, it is the man leading the line who has truly captured his focus.
The Ultimate Individual Prize Within Reach
Harry Kane’s sensational form for both club and country has made him the odds-on favorite to claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Coming off an astonishing 61-goal season with Bayern Munich, the 32-year-old striker carried that devastating momentum into the World Cup. His dramatic, clutch performances—including a decisive brace to rescue the Three Lions in a – comeback against DR Congo—have pushed him to the front of the global stage, ahead of heavyweights like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.
For Owen, Kane’s evolution into a ruthless, multi-faceted talisman is exactly what is required to win over the Ballon d’Or voting panel. Winning the award requires a perfect storm of relentless club statistics and iconic international moments.
With the Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for October 26, 2026, Owen is confident that the narrative is already set. If Kane can finalize his spectacular year by bringing football home, Owen will no longer be the answer to a trivia question about England’s last golden export—he will be welcoming Kane into one of football’s most exclusive clubs.
For a deeper dive into Owen’s own journey to the pinnacle of world football and his insights on the game’s current elite strikers, you can watch Michael Owen discuss his Ballon d’Or career, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé. This interview provides excellent context on what it takes for an English player to win the award.
