England captain Harry Kane has earned a nomination for the Ballon d'Or following a prolific 73-goal season for club and country.
Kane, who now plays for Bayern Munich, scored 61 goals for the German club and added 12 for the England national team. His contributions helped Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal, while England achieved a third-place finish in the recent World Cup.
Despite winning major team honors typically being crucial for the Ballon d'Or, Kane's individual scoring record for the 2025-26 season places him among the all-time greats. His goal tally surpassed notable figures such as Bayern legend Gerd Müller (72 in 1972-73) and Cristiano Ronaldo (66 in 2011-12 and 2014-15). Only Lionel Messi has scored more in a single season, with 82 goals in 2011-12.
"Of course, now it is out of my hands, it is down to the voters and the people who decide it," Kane stated regarding his chances. "The season I had was my best season by far, and we'll have to wait and see. I'm happy that I am in contention, so we'll have to wait and see."
Should Kane win, he would become the fifth English player to receive the Ballon d'Or, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen.
He faces significant competition from national teammate Jude Bellingham, who also received a nomination. Other prominent contenders include Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi, who has been nominated for a record 16th time.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 26, and will be held in London. This event will mark the first time the prestigious individual prize ceremony takes place in the city.
In other award nominations, Premier League champions Arsenal are listed for Team of the Year, with manager Mikel Arteta a candidate for Coach of the Year. Spain's World Cup-winning manager Luis De La Fuente is also a nominee for his team's success in the tournament. Luis Enrique, who led PSG to another Champions League title, and Unai Emery for Aston Villa's Europa League victory, are also nominated for Coach of the Year, alongside Bayern Munich's Vincent Kompany.