Luca Toni backs Harry Kane to win 2026 Ballon d’Or after 73-goal season
Former Italian striker Luca Toni has publicly backed Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, speaking at Kane’s official presentation ceremony for the 2025/26 European Golden Shoe. Toni said Kane’s 73-goal haul for club and country last season – the second‑best of this century – makes him deserve football’s top individual honour. He added that Kane "represents modern football" and noted that only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the Golden Boot more often than Kane’s two.
Toni, who wore the Bayern shirt during his own career, praised Kane’s consistency and impact, saying the England captain’s numbers speak for themselves. The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually to the world’s best player, has recently gone to Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, but Toni believes Kane’s goal‑scoring record tips the scale in his favor.
If Kane adds the Ballon d’Or to his Golden Boot, would it reflect a changing valuation of pure goal‑scoring excellence in an era where team trophies often dominate individual awards?