Harry Kane has made his priorities clear after admitting that he would rather win the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich than keep his recently acquired Ballon d’Or trophy, insisting that team success remains the ultimate reward in football.
The England captain, who was crowned the world’s best player at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London last week, described the individual recognition as one of the greatest moments of his career but admitted that lifting Europe’s most prestigious club trophy alongside his teammates would mean even more.
Speaking ahead of Bayern Munich’s Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid, the 33-year-old explained that football is ultimately about collective achievements and the emotions that come with celebrating major trophies as a team.
“I’ve always said that team trophies are the reason why we play football. Winning the Ballon d’Or last week was one of the best feelings of my entire life, of my entire career. Without a doubt,” Kane said.
“But sharing moments with the team, lifting the Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich, would be an absolutely incredible feeling.”
When asked to choose between retaining his individual honour and winning the Champions League, Kane did not hesitate to identify European glory as his preferred achievement.
“The Ballon d’Or is a pinnacle, but you want to experience those big finals, win and share those emotions with your teammates.
“So yes, I would choose the Champions League! But I have the opportunity to do both, so let’s see what happens.”
Kane’s comments underline Bayern Munich’s determination to reclaim their position among Europe’s elite after several seasons without winning the Champions League.
The German giants last lifted the trophy in 2020, when they defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final, and have since experienced several disappointing European campaigns.
Kane, meanwhile, has his own unfinished business with the competition.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker came painfully close to winning the Champions League in 2019, when his side suffered a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in the final at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Interestingly, the same stadium is scheduled to host this season’s Champions League final, giving Kane an opportunity to return to the venue and potentially rewrite one of the most disappointing chapters of his career.
Since joining Bayern from Tottenham in August 2023, the England international has established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s most influential attacking players, winning domestic honours and consistently delivering goals.
His outstanding performances last season helped him register 73 goals for club and country, strengthening his position among the world’s leading forwards and eventually earning him the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
He also became the first Englishman to win the prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001, ending a 25-year wait for another English winner.
However, individual recognition is not enough to satisfy the striker, who now wants to add Europe’s biggest club trophy to his growing collection.
Kane’s ambitions come at an important moment for Bayern, who are preparing for a challenging European encounter against Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone.
The Spanish manager has already praised Kane’s quality, describing him as an exceptional player whose development and maturity have made him even more dangerous in attacking positions.
Beyond his Champions League ambitions, Kane also provided a positive update on his Bayern Munich future, revealing that negotiations over a new contract were extremely close to completion.
The striker indicated that the remaining discussions involved minor contractual details, suggesting that an agreement could be finalised within days rather than weeks.
For Kane, winning the Ballon d’Or has fulfilled a lifelong ambition. But with the Champions League still missing from his list of major achievements, the Bayern forward is determined to pursue another historic milestone.
And if his ambitions materialise, he could finish the season with both individual and European football’s most coveted club honour.
