Roberto De Zerbi Names Harry Kane as His Ballon d’Or Pick as Tottenham Boss Delivers Strong Verdict
Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has thrown his support behind Harry Kane in the race for the Ballon d’Or, insisting that the former Spurs striker deserves to win football’s most prestigious individual award.
Kane has continued to establish himself among the world’s elite forwards since leaving Tottenham for Bayern Munich in 2023. His performances in Germany have further strengthened his reputation, with the England captain delivering outstanding numbers for the Bundesliga giants.
The striker enjoyed an exceptional campaign last season, scoring an incredible 73 goals across all competitions. His contributions extended beyond his remarkable goalscoring record, as he played a crucial role in Bayern’s successful season, helping the German club secure the Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal and German Supercup.
Despite his individual brilliance and impressive team achievements, Kane narrowly missed out on another opportunity to lift the Champions League trophy after Bayern were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. England’s World Cup semi-final exit also meant he continued his search for major international silverware.
Nevertheless, Kane’s performances have placed him firmly among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or, with several prominent figures in football now making their preferences known ahead of the ceremony.
Roberto De Zerbi Explains Why Harry Kane Deserves the Ballon d’Or
Kane faces considerable competition for the award, particularly from Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, both of whom have enjoyed impressive spells of their own.
While his rivals have attracted attention with their performances and public comments about the award, Kane has largely avoided an aggressive campaign to convince voters that he deserves to win.
Yamal previously appeared to question whether goalscoring statistics alone should determine the winner, suggesting that the Ballon d’Or should recognise the best player in the world rather than simply reward the individual who scores the most goals.
The Barcelona youngster’s comments added another dimension to the debate surrounding Kane’s candidacy, given the England international’s extraordinary scoring record.
Kane, however, has maintained a relaxed attitude towards the outcome, expressing satisfaction with his achievements regardless of whether he ultimately receives the award.
The Bayern Munich forward acknowledged that the final decision rests with the voters, while describing his performances over the campaign as the best of his career.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the result, De Zerbi has made his position clear.
When asked who he believes should win the Ballon d’Or, the Tottenham manager offered an emphatic endorsement of Kane, highlighting the striker’s remarkable versatility and influence on the pitch.
De Zerbi said Kane deserved to win the award, describing him as a complete footballer capable of performing in several different positions.
The Italian’s assessment underlined his admiration for Kane’s technical ability, intelligence and understanding of the game, qualities that extend well beyond his reputation as a prolific goalscorer.
His comments have added another influential voice to the growing discussion about whether Kane’s extraordinary season should be rewarded with football’s biggest individual honour.
Harry Kane Receives Backing From Former Tottenham Teammates
De Zerbi is not the only person to have publicly supported Kane’s Ballon d’Or ambitions.
Former Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has also backed the England captain, praising his mentality, professionalism and dedication throughout his career.
Winks believes Kane has demonstrated the qualities required to compete for the most prestigious individual awards, pointing to the hard work and determination that have helped him become one of Europe’s most consistent goalscorers.
However, the former Spurs midfielder also made an interesting distinction when discussing the best players he encountered during his time at Tottenham.
Although he believes Kane deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, Winks identified Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembélé as the finest teammate he played alongside at the North London club.
Winks explained that Dembélé had a significant influence on his development, revealing how much he learned from the former Tottenham star during their time together.
His comments offered a reminder that Kane’s goalscoring achievements are not the only measure of a player’s influence, particularly when teammates reflect on the individuals who shaped their careers.
Nevertheless, Winks’ support for Kane reinforces the widespread respect the striker commands among those who have played alongside him.
Ballon d’Or Ceremony Set to Reveal the Winner
With voting having closed in September, the latest endorsements are unlikely to influence the final outcome.
Attention has now turned towards the ceremony, where the winner will finally be announced and the debate over the leading candidates will reach its conclusion.
Kane’s extraordinary goalscoring numbers, individual performances and contribution to Bayern Munich’s trophy-winning campaign have strengthened his case for recognition.
However, with Yamal and Mbappe also attracting considerable attention, the competition remains a major talking point among football supporters.
For De Zerbi, there is little doubt about who deserves the honour.
The Tottenham boss has placed his support firmly behind Kane, praising the striker as a complete footballer whose quality extends across multiple areas of the game.
Whether that backing translates into victory remains to be seen, but Kane’s performances have ensured that his name remains central to the Ballon d’Or conversation.