The 2026 Ballon d'Or was awarded to Harry Kane, and French goalkeeper HugoLloris, who shared the Tottenham dressing room for ten years, expressed great enthusiasm for the English striker's triumph. Lloris, former captain of France, told L'Équipe that the victory is a deserved recognition, the result of constant growth and a continuous expansion of one's skills without losing humility or team spirit.
Kane obtained the prestigious award on the evening in London, beating prominent names such as KylianMbappé, LamineYamal, Rodri, LionelMessi and KhvichaKvaratskhelia in the voting. For Lloris, who played alongside Kane from 2013 to 2023, the result is "full deserved" and represents a personal and collective success. "I'm happy for him. It's fantastic to see a former teammate win the Ballon d'Or in his hometown, London," commented the French goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper then praised Kane's versatility, calling him a complete player who, according to Lloris, is capable of making short passes, long balls, tackles and defensive returns. "He has an incredible range of qualities, which he has developed year after year. Today he can do everything: short passes, long balls, tackles, defensive returns. And he is probably the best player inside the penalty area," he added.
Lloris also highlighted Kane's character, describing him as a protagonist who doesn't overly seek the spotlight. "He doesn't seek the spotlight. He owes this Ballon d'Or to his professionalism and his humility. He is an example in our sport," he said. According to the former Les Bleus goalkeeper, Kane's success rewards a vision of football that enhances the collective in addition to the ability to score: "He's not just a goal machine."
With Kane's victory, Bayern Munich added a new champion to their list of titles, while Tottenham and France celebrate the figure of a former player who left an indelible mark on European football. The next step for Kane will be to continue leading Bayern to further success, while Lloris remains a passionate supporter of his former teammate, ready to share further moments of glory for world football.