Declan Rice Backs England Teammate Harry Kane to Win Ballon d'Or

Declan Rice says England teammate Harry Kane deserves to win the Ballon d'Or on Monday. Both players scored when Arsenal tied 2-2 with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Kane scored his tenth goal of the season from the penalty spot. He had 61 goals in 51 games during the 2025-26 period. Rice told CBS Sports after the match that Kane's steady form over his career makes it his time to win the prize. Rice praised Kane's incredible game on Wednesday, his numbers over the past year, and his work for the England national team. Since leaving Tottenham for Bayern in 2023, Kane has broken several records. Last month, he set a new mark as the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals by hitting the milestone in his 98th match. That beat Dieter Müller's old record of 129 games. Sources indicate Kane is close to signing a new contract with Bayern. Rice also praised Kane as a good person and a strong leader. If Kane wins, he will be the first Englishman to take the prize since Michael Owen. Kane stated on Wednesday that he is trying not to stress about the upcoming ceremony. He faces competition from players like Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé.

Context

The Ballon d'Or is an annual football award given to the best player over the previous year. English players rarely win the global prize, making a victory for Kane a rare milestone for the country.