Ballon d'or 2026: Harry Kane warns Ousmane Dembélé

After clinching a second Golden Boot in three years with a staggering 61 goals this season, Harry Kane is brimming with confidence ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or. On Tuesday, the English striker even sent a warning to Ousmane Dembélé during an interview with L'Equipe.

For this 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane has his sights set on nothing less than lifting the trophy. Individually, the Englishman is also keeping a sharp eye on the history books. While he remains realistic about breaking all-time records, Kane is determined to leave an indelible mark on English football during the tournament and is counting on the form of his life to do so.

"The records I'm targeting at the World Cup? The one that would be truly extraordinary to hold is the record for most goals scored in World Cup finals (currently held by Miroslav Klose, with 16 goals). But for now, I’m still too far away from that (8 goals). On the other hand, I could possibly break the record for most World Cup goals by an Englishman (Gary Lineker, 10). If I break that record, it probably means the team is winning matches, which is obviously the most important thing." he said.

Currently one of the frontrunners for the Ballon d'Or, Kane is more convinced than ever: "Do I deserve the Ballon d'Or if England win the World Cup? I think so, yes. When you look at the current favourites for the Ballon d'Or, there's Michael (Olise), Champions League finalists, and myself. But at the same time, I’m not the kind of person who claims to deserve the Ballon d'Or. I try to let my performances on the pitch do the talking. The Ballon d'Or in London? Yes, I saw that. Maybe that's a good omen for me (he smiles). Winning it in my hometown would make it even more special for me."

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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