Real Madrid miss chance while Harry Kane lifts historic Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid have been warned they missed a trick by not signing Harry Kane after Karim Benzema left in 2023, and the England captain celebrated his historic Ballon d’Or win on Monday evening, edging out Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to become only the fifth Englishman to lift the trophy.

Kane's Ballon d’Or triumph

Kane’s triumph marked a milestone for English football. He amassed 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern Munich and England during the 2025/26 season, securing the fifth‑ever Ballon d’Or for an English player. The award made him the first Englishman to win since Michael Owen in 2001.

During his three years in Germany, Kane helped Bayern Munich capture a league and cup double, scoring 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions last season. He also lifted the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the German Super Cup, and claimed the European Golden Boot with 36 league strikes. His total for Bayern now stands at 156 goals in 159 outings.

The 33‑year‑old began his senior career at Tottenham, leaving the club as its all‑time record scorer three years ago after nearly two decades on their books. He moved to Bayern Munich in 2023, a decision that has since seen his goal tally soar. Kane now captains England, guiding the Three Lions to a World Cup semi‑final.

Lamine Yamal bows out of Golden Boy glory as he eyes Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid’s missed opportunity

Real Madrid were told they missed a trick by failing to sign Kane after Karim Benzema departed for Saudi Arabia in 2023. Spanish football expert Phil Kitromiledes told, “He should have gone to Real Madrid. Real Madrid should have signed him when Karim Benzema left. He would have been the ideal player to come in and fulfil that role because he is a brilliant number nine, but he’s also a brilliant number ten.”

Kitromiledes added that a move to Barcelona had been mooted this summer but seemed unlikely, saying, “Possibly not. He might have to take a little bit of a pay cut to come to Barcelona. I’m not sure they’ve got the money to shell out for him at the moment. But yeah, he’s a player.”

Benzema himself won the 2022 Ballon d’Or while wearing the Real Madrid shirt and remains the club’s second‑all‑time leading scorer. His departure left a void that many believed Kane could have filled.

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Kane’s win pushed Kylian Mbappe to second place in the Ballon d’Or rankings despite the Frenchman’s 58 goals in 60 games in the 2025/26 season, while Lamine Yamal finished third. Mbappe also secured the Golden Boot at the World Cup, where France reached the semi‑finals and he became the tournament’s all‑time top scorer, though he returned home without a trophy.