Prince William led a wave of glowing tributes as Harry Kane ended England’s 25-year wait for the Ballon d’Or, being crowned the world’s best footballer at the London Palladium on Monday night.
The Prince of Wales, patron of the Football Association, could not hide his pride in the England skipper who beat Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to the ultimate prize.
“What a fantastic achievement and so deserved. A brilliant captain, a remarkable player and someone who has given football fans across the world so many unforgettable moments,” Prince William wrote on Instagram in a personal royal endorsement.
It was a night England will never forget. Wembley was lit up in Kane’s honour, with the official England account declaring: “The home of the world’s best footballer.”
Kane, 33, becomes the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001 after a monster season — 73 goals in 65 games, a league and cup double with Bayern Munich, and six World Cup goals as England finished third.
“I’M LIVING A DREAM”
An emotional Kane admitted the moment felt surreal.
“It feels really, really like a dream. The emotion was relief, joy, happiness, excitement. There was so much waiting to find out the winner, it was quite nerve-wracking,” he told Sky Sports.
TUCHEL, BAYERN, TEAMMATES JOIN PRAISE PARTY
The tributes kept pouring in.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who managed Kane at Bayern, said the nation is “lucky to have you as our leader.”
Bayern president Herbert Hainer called it “a proud day for FC Bayern,” saying Kane now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with legends Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Declan Rice called him “incredible,” Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers hailed him as the “best ever,” while Harry Redknapp said: “No one could have deserved this more. It has been a brilliant story.”
