A royal congratulations has landed in Harry Kane’s inbox.
The Prince of Wales took to Instagram overnight to salute England’s new Ballon d’Or winner, as reported by Livescore.
“Huge congratulations to Harry Kane on winning the Ballon d’Or! What a fantastic achievement and so deserved,” William wrote, going on to call the Bayern Munich striker a brilliant captain and a remarkable player who has given fans around the world unforgettable moments.
Kane, 33, was named the world’s best men’s footballer at the London Palladium on Monday night, ending a 25-year English wait that stretched back to Michael Owen’s win in 2001.
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The gala moved out of its traditional Paris home for the first time, with organizers marking the 70th anniversary of Stanley Matthews becoming the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956. Kane finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal.
A royal patron of the English game
William has been an active voice behind the English game for two decades. According to Livescore, he serves as patron of the Football Association, a role he moved into after a long stint as president, and 2026 marks 20 years since he first took on the position.
He has used that platform at several defining England moments, including after the Lionesses’ and the senior men’s team’s major tournament runs.
Per Livescore, his tribute landed alongside messages from Kane’s former Tottenham partner Son Heung-min and from the England coaching staff, who pointed to a tally of 91 goals in 125 international caps.
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73-goal season drove the vote
The case for Kane was built on a prolific Bayern campaign in 2025/26. He scored 73 goals for club and country combined, including 14 in the Champions League, and was the Bundesliga’s top scorer for a third consecutive season as Bayern completed a domestic treble.
Taking the stage in London, Kane told the audience the award was “beyond my wildest dreams,” Sky Sports reported, adding that lifting the trophy on home soil felt like a good omen.
He also picked up the Men’s Striker of the Year prize on the night.
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