Ex-Arsenal coach who tried to turn Harry Kane into a GOALKEEPER hails his Ballon d'Or win as 'fully deserved'

Harry Kane, 33, claimed the 2026 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, edging out Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal on the back of 73 goals across 65 games for Bayern Munich and England in the previous season. The Bayern striker became the first Englishman to lift the award since Michael Owen in 2001, ending a 25-year drought. A visibly moved Kane dedicated the prize to his wife Kate, his teammates and young players who share his ambitions.

Six World Cup goals took Kane past Gary Lineker's tally, making him England's outright record scorer at the tournament.

Alex Welsh, who attempted to convert Kane into a goalkeeper at age 10 at Arsenal's academy, said the nation 'owes me a debt of gratitude that I was hopeless at my job.'

'To my wife Kate, my best friend — you wanted this more than me,' Kane told the crowd.