Sports
Pochettino Backs Harry Kane for Ballon d'Or Over Messi
Mauricio Pochettino has voiced strong support for Harry Kane to win this year's Ballon d'Or, praising the Bayern Munich and England striker's career achievements despite competition from Lionel Messi. The Argentine coach, who now leads the United States national team and previously managed Kane at Tottenham Hotspur, expressed his hope that his former player would receive the honor.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Pochettino said he believes Kane deserves the award as recognition for his entire career and his contributions to football. He acknowledged that Kane's Ballon d'Or chances could be affected by his team's exits from both the Champions League and World Cup at the semi-final stage, but maintained his belief that it is Kane's turn to be honored.
Pochettino compared Kane's potential recognition to past Ballon d'Or winners such as Luka Modric, Fabio Cannavaro and Karim Benzema, who received the award largely in acknowledgment of their overall careers rather than a single standout season. "If I had to choose one player, it would be Harry Kane," Pochettino stated.
Kane's recent campaigns ended in heartbreak on both fronts. In the Champions League, his Bayern Munich side lost 5-4 to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals before PSG went on to draw 1-1 with Bayern in a follow-up meeting and eventually win the trophy by beating Arsenal on penalties. At the 2026 World Cup, Kane's England team suffered a painful 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina, though they recovered to secure third place with a 6-4 victory over France.