Ballon d'Or winner Kane brushes off knighthood talk: 'I'd feel weird being called Sir'

Harry Kane became the first English footballer to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 when he collected the award at a ceremony on Monday evening, capping a season in which he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich and led England to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Speaking to reporters after watching Bayern’s DFB-Pokal win over Magdeburg from the bench on Wednesday, the 33-year-old was asked whether he expected a knighthood to follow — a question that has trailed every English Ballon d’Or winner.

“I wouldn’t say no to it, that’s for sure,” Kane said. “If it happens it’ll be incredible, and something I’ll be massively proud of. But I don’t want to get too carried away. It would sound good, but I’d feel weird everyone calling me Sir. So we’ll just keep it as Harry for now.”

Kane is the fifth English player to win the award and the first Bayern Munich recipient since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. His season included a second consecutive Bundesliga title, underlining a consistency that has defined his time in Germany since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.

Political and royal endorsements have already arrived. Prince William, patron of the FA, posted on Instagram on Monday night: “What a fantastic achievement and so deserved. A brilliant captain, a remarkable player and someone who has given football fans across the world so many unforgettable moments.”

Kane left Tottenham as the Premier League’s second-highest scorer of all time with 213 goals — behind only Alan Shearer — and remains England’s all-time leading scorer. He is set to become the country’s most-capped player next month when he earns his 126th international appearance.

For now, the focus returns to club football. Bayern and Borussia Dortmund are level on points at the top of the Bundesliga ahead of their meeting on Saturday, a fixture that will demand Kane’s full attention regardless of what title — honorary or otherwise — may follow.