Harry Kane's unspectacular and humble journey to Ballon d'Or winner told by those who know best

Kane won the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to claim the award in 25 years, with former teachers and managers reflecting on his humble rise through hard work.

Harry Kane has won the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman to win the prestigious award in 25 years. The Bayern Munich striker marked the achievement with a post on X: "Work hard in silence. Let success be your noise."

Kane's former English teacher and coach at Chingford Foundation School, Denis McElligott, reflected on the striker's formative years, describing him as supremely talented but notably humble. "He was the best player, but a role model in the truest sense," McElligott told talkSPORT. "I think he's got as far as he's got through hard work and dedication." McElligott noted that unlike some of his famous schoolmates—David Beckham and Dwight Gayle—Kane didn't possess a standout trick but instead excelled at every aspect of his game. "He just does everything so well," McElligott said. "He's the best centre forward you've ever seen."

Former former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood also backed Kane's potential when others doubted him. Sherwood resisted pressure to sell Kane during his early years, when the striker was competing with established forwards like Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe. "I saw a kid who warranted a chance to prove that he's got the ability to play in the Premier League," Sherwood said.