United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has backed Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or next month.
Pochettino insisted that it is Kane’s time to win the prestigious individual award.
According to him, the England international deserves to win it, just as Luka Modrić, Fabio Cannavaro and Karim Benzema did in the past.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich last season, helping Vincent Kompany’s side win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.
He also scored six goals as England finished third at the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking about the Ballon d’Or, Pochettino said of Kane, according to ESPN: “My wish, I hope yes [he wins it].
“I think he deserves it as the reward for his career and for all that he has done in football.
“I don’t know if he is going to be punished for the World Cup or the Champions League because he played in both semifinals.
“Maybe he will be punished, I don’t know, but, for me, it’s Harry Kane’s time.
“He deserves it in his career like Modrić or Cannavaro, Benzema. I think if I pick one, then it’s Harry Kane.”