Harry Kane admits knighthood would feel 'weird' after Ballon d'Or triumph

Kane won the Ballon d'Or on Monday after scoring 73 goals last season, becoming the first Englishman to claim the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Harry Kane has won the Ballon d'Or following a remarkable 73-goal tally across the 2023-24 season for Bayern Munich and England. The award, presented by French publication France Football, makes him the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 and only the fifth Englishman ever to receive the honour, joining Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

When asked about the prospect of a knighthood—for which bookmakers have given him 3-1 odds by 2030—Kane said he would be "massively proud" but admitted it would feel "weird" to be called Sir. "I wouldn't say no to it, that's for sure," he told reporters after Bayern's DFB-Pokal victory against Magdeburg. "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."

Downing Street acknowledged Kane's contribution to English football, with a spokeswoman stating that "everyone would agree, Harry Kane has given an enormous amount to English football," though she declined to pre-empt the formal honours process.