Harry Kane has said that waiting to find out whether he has won the Ballon d'Or is proving stressful for his family. The Bayern Munich and England striker spoke on 22 October 2026, days before the winner of the award is revealed at a ceremony in London.
Kane is the odds-on favourite for the prestigious individual honour. He would prefer to know the result now, because the uncertainty and the constant questions are wearing on those around him, although he accepts that the suspense is part of the occasion.
The reveal takes place at the London Palladium on Monday night. It is the first time the ceremony has been staged in London, which adds extra interest for English supporters as the date approaches.
Kane, who is 33, has enjoyed a prolific spell. He scored 61 goals for Bayern last season and added 12 for England, figures that have underpinned his position at the head of the betting for the award.
Speaking in an interview with Marca, Kane said his wife in particular would rather have an answer. "I think my wife would prefer to know and my family, it's very stressful for everyone," the striker said, describing the effect the wait is having at home.
He also spoke about how he deals with the situation himself. "I try not to think about it. Obviously it is hard not to," Kane said, admitting that the subject is difficult to put out of his mind as the ceremony draws closer.
There is competition for the prize. Supporters of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Rodri have become more vocal in backing their own candidates, so the outcome is being closely discussed in the final days before the announcement.
The background adds weight to the occasion. Kane has never finished in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or voting, and Jude Bellingham was the last Englishman to place high, finishing third in 2024. A win for Kane would make him just the fifth English player to take the award. The winner is announced on Monday night, which falls on 26 October 2026.