Kane lifted the biggest prize in men’s football on Monday, beating Kylian Mbappé into second place and Lamine Yamal into third. The win ended a long English wait, making him the first Englishman to collect the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

Much of the England captain’s reflection after the ceremony was reserved for the 19-year-old who had finished behind him. In post-ceremony comments reported by Barca Universal, Kane said:

“Lamine Yamal is an incredible player. What he does at that age is truly incredible.”

“When I was his age, I was playing with different clubs on loan!”

Read also: Team coach Manolo González has been sacked from Espanyol

Four loan clubs before Tottenham

The contrast behind that line is a matter of record. Between 2011 and 2013, Kane was sent out from Tottenham to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City, three divisions and four shirts in a 24-month stretch.

Yamal has used the equivalent window of his own career playing Champions League football for Barcelona, carrying Spain’s attack in his teens, and now standing on the Ballon d’Or podium before his twentieth birthday.

A night dominated by Spain

The ceremony ended with a majority of the trophies going to Spanish players, coaches or a Spanish club, with Yamal collecting another Kopa Trophy for the best under-21 player.

Kane’s main-award win was built on a Bundesliga-winning season at Bayern Munich. In his acceptance speech he told the room: “I wasn’t the kid who went straight to the top,” before thanking the coaches at every club he had worn a shirt for.

Read also: Hansi Flick makes surprise Leeds United star his top Barcelona defensive target

The 33-year-old scored for Bayern across all competitions last season and featured for England at the 2026 World Cup.

Read also: ‘Threats and bribes’: Infantino critic faces action after explosive claims