Kane's praise for Yamal should console Barcelona winger

Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or ahead of Mbappé and Yamal, but praised the Barcelona winger's talent and compared his own early career path.

Harry Kane claimed the 2026 Ballon d'Or following an outstanding season at Bayern Munich, with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé finishing second and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal third.

Despite competing for the award, Kane offered effusive praise for Yamal on the Ballon d'Or red carpet. Speaking to Movistar+, the Bayern striker highlighted the Barcelona winger's exceptional level and reflected on his own journey. "He's an incredible player. Doing what he's doing at his age is really incredible. I was loaned out to several clubs, trying to find my way. This shows that every path is different. He's started very well and what he does at that young age shows the magnitude of the talent and quality he has," Kane said.

Kane spent time on loan at Leyton Orient, Milwall, Norwich City and Leicester City before establishing himself at Tottenham. His final loan came at age 19—the age at which Yamal has already won three La Liga titles, a World Cup, a European Championship, a Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups.