Football stars and fans are supporting demands for Harry Kane to receive a knighthood following his historic win as the first Englishman in 25 years to claim the Ballon d'Or. Downing Street praised the prolific forward, who celebrated his victory with champagne before returning to training with Bayern Munich.
At 33 years old, Harry already holds England's record for international goals and approaches the milestone of becoming the nation's most-capped player. This places the captain of the Three Lions on track to become just the second active footballer to receive a knighthood, with bookmakers offering short odds for his inclusion in the New Year Honours List.
Chris Kamara Leads Tributes
Former player, manager, and broadcaster Chris Kamara, 68, initiated the calls to honour the exemplary athlete. He told The Sun that the striker is an absolute certainty who improves with age, questioning why the recognition should not be granted immediately.
On Monday evening at the London Palladium, the former Tottenham forward surpassed competition from Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, 27, and Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal, 19, to secure the prestigious French trophy. Michael Owen was the last Englishman to win the award in 2001.
Extraordinary Achievement
The triumph follows a stellar year featuring 73 combined goals for club and country. Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural prize in 1956, remains the sole player knighted during his playing career. Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan are the other English recipients of the honour.
A Downing Street spokeswoman lauded the extraordinary feat and stated that Prime Minister Andy Burnham knows the entire country feels immense pride. Regarding a potential knighthood, she noted that Harry has contributed massively to English football and that the moment is very special, though she declined to pre-empt the honours process.
Support from Former Teammates
Former Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt, 65, described the star as exceptionally deserving, highlighting his dedication and family values. Former winger Chris Waddle, 65, also endorsed the award, praising the disciplined professional lifestyle of the player.
Bookmaker Betfair shortened odds on the player appearing in the New Year Honours List to 1/100, according to spokesman James Mackie. Harry has netted 91 goals for England and shares 125 caps with Peter Shilton, aiming to break the appearance record against Croatia on November 12 in the Uefa Nations League.
Record Transfer and Ceremony
The £400,000-a-week player transferred from Tottenham to Bayern Munich in a £104 million deal in 2023, subsequently winning a league and domestic cup double. Born in Leytonstone, East London, he accepted the trophy from Brazilian legend Ronaldo, 50, at the ceremony held in England's capital for the first time.
He expressed gratitude to his wife, Kate, 33, during his speech before celebrating with family and friends at the Cirque Le Soir nightclub in Soho. He quickly returned to training on Tuesday ahead of a cup match against FC Magdeburg on Wednesday.
