Asked at Wembley on Tuesday whether Kane could win football’s biggest individual prize, Jude Bellingham did not hesitate.
“Yeah, who knows? It’s definitely possible,” he told reporters.
Kane had just scored twice to equal Peter Shilton’s record of 125 England caps and reach 91 international goals, as Thomas Tuchel’s side eased past Czechia 3-0.
The captain’s cross forced Vladimir Coufal into an own goal before Kane added a second-half header. By the final whistle, the discussion in the mixed zone had already moved from the record to the one he does not yet hold.
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“Nothing he ever does surprises me,” Bellingham said.
“Such an amazing role model, such an amazing guy and an honour to share the pitch with him.”
“Everything he gets, he deserves. He works so hard for it.”
The 70th ceremony lands in London
The Ballon d’Or will be presented outside Paris for the first time on Monday 26 October, UEFA has confirmed, with the 70th edition staged in London in tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner in 1956.
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Kane leads a cluster of English nominees on the 30-man shortlist that also includes Bellingham, Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes and William Saliba, as Sky Sports reported when the names were revealed last month. Cristiano Ronaldo was not included.
Yamal has reeled Kane in
Kane scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England last season, including six for the national team at the World Cup, and spent much of the summer installed as the pre-ceremony favourite.
That has since shifted. Lamine Yamal is now the odds-on pick at a best price of around 1/2 after Spain’s World Cup triumph, with Kane and Kylian Mbappé the chief challengers behind him.
The Bayern striker’s statistical case still stands up. His 36 Bundesliga goals delivered a third straight top-scorer award and a second European Golden Shoe.
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Kane can take the Shilton record outright when England host Croatia next month.
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