Harry Kane will buy presents for his England and Bayern Munich teammates following his historic Ballon d'Or win. The 33-year-old striker became the first Englishman to claim football's top individual prize since Michael Owen in 2001, sparking plans for a generous celebration. His England side is in excellent form, having won three of their last four matches, with three wins and a defeat in that sequence, and they are currently on a three-game winning run.
Kane confirmed his intention to reward the players who supported him through a remarkable season where he scored 73 goals. "Some of the guys have asked for watches or something similar, so I'll have to come up with something nice for them, both at Bayern and with the England national team," Kane said.
The gesture is expected to carry a significant cost given Kane's reported weekly earnings of around £400,000 at Bayern Munich. Buying high-end items for a full squad at both club and international level could run into millions of pounds. Kane returned to Germany to a hero's welcome from his Bayern colleagues after the awards ceremony in Paris.
His England teammates are expected to offer similar congratulations when the squad reconvenes next month. The Three Lions are in strong form, having won their last three matches, including a 7-0 demolition of Croatia and a 3-0 victory over Czechia earlier this month. Kane scored twice in that win against the Czechs, taking his international tally for the campaign to five goals. That result followed a 7-0 thrashing of Croatia on 3 October and a 2-0 win in Czechia on 29 September, with the only recent blemish a 3-2 home loss to Spain on 26 September.
Reflecting on the award, Kane described the experience as overwhelming. "A truly crazy week," he said.
The England captain also addressed the possibility of a knighthood following his achievement, expressing discomfort with the title 'Sir'. His focus remains on the pitch, where Gareth Southgate's side prepares to host Croatia again in a UEFA Nations League fixture on Saturday 12 November. Croatia currently sit second in the table, making it a key encounter. Jude Bellingham currently leads the England scoring charts this season with seven goals in eight appearances. Kane will join the squad aiming to extend their winning run and personally thank his colleagues with the promised gifts.
This story first appeared at The Mirror
