Harry Kane won the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in his hometown of London on Monday evening, the first time the 33-year-old England captain has taken the award. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich assistant coach Aaron Danks told a press conference that the honour would not alter the striker's approach, according to Punch Newspapers. Danks said Kane's attention had already moved on to the matches ahead.
"I am really happy for him and proud of what he's achieved. I know Harry and his full focus will now be on his next goal, his next performances, his next games," Danks said. He added that Kane would return to the same professional and humble habits that brought him to the top of the game.
Danks is leading the team from the dugout while head coach Vincent Kompany recovers in hospital from a virus.
Why it matters
The award settles a long-running debate about Kane's standing in the game. Punch Newspapers reports that he had collected several scoring honours and finished as runner-up in both the Premier League and the Champions League with Tottenham, but did not win a first-team trophy until he joined Bayern in 2023.
Since moving to Munich, Kane has claimed two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup, and reached the Champions League semi-finals in two of his three seasons at the club. Danks said the forward is now receiving recognition that had been missing earlier in his career.
He recalled the years when observers in England focused on Kane's lack of team silverware rather than his overall record. Danks pointed to Kane's runs to European finals with the national team and to a Champions League final with Tottenham as evidence of a strong career that went underrated in trophy terms. In his view, those rewards are arriving now.
A quick turnaround before Magdeburg
Kane and the rest of the Bayern group who travelled to London for the ceremony were due back in Munich around lunchtime on Tuesday. Danks said the striker would train that afternoon and be available for Wednesday's German Cup tie against second-tier Magdeburg.
"They're due back at lunchtime today. He'll train, practice this afternoon and be available for tomorrow… Our full focus is on the game tomorrow," Danks said.
The assistant also gave an update on Kompany, who was taken to hospital on Friday after collapsing on the training pitch. Danks said he had visited the manager and found him in good spirits, improving day by day. He said there was no significant news on a diagnosis or a date for returning to work, and that the priority was to let Kompany rest and recover.
Bayern currently lead the Bundesliga after seven matches, level on points with Borussia Dortmund and ahead only on goal difference. The two clubs meet in Munich on Saturday.
Attention now turns to whether Kane features against Magdeburg and how Bayern handle the top-of-the-table clash with Dortmund at the weekend.
