England s Kane optimistic about chances of winning first Ballon d Or

LONDON - England captain Harry Kane sees a real chance of winning the next Ballon dOr award for the best player in the world, but knows securing silverware with Bayern Munich would be key to fulfilling that dream.

The 31-year-old striker, Englands all-time leading goalscorer, has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions this season for Bayern, helping the German giants top the Bundesliga table and book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

While no English player has won the Ballon dOr since former Liverpool striker Michael Owen in 2001, Kane believes his chance of winning footballs top individual award has been boosted by his August 2023 move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern.

Just being at a club like Bayern Munich has helped push me on even more, confidence-wise and responsibility-wise, Kane told reporters ahead of Fridays Fifa World Cup European qualifier against Albania.

I feel like Ive definitely got better, Ive improved, and maybe the aura of me as a player is a bit more respected than what it has been in the past, because youre playing in big games, big nights.

Thats probably what I mean in terms of being respected more worldwide, on the bigger stage. For something like that, you have to win enough team trophies to be considered in that and probably score 40-odd goals, but that is a possibility this season.

Kane said his goal-scoring feats are not always appreciated but he remains motivated as ever.

Its like when (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi were throwing these crazy numbers out there and the next season theyd score 40 goals instead of 50. It was like they were having a bad season, Kane said.

People take it for granted and maybe a little bit with England as well.