Klinsmann Names Kane Among Top Three Ballon d’Or Contenders
Former German international striker Jürgen Klinsmann has said that England and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane is among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or.
Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with Germany in 1990, believes Kane should be “among the top three candidates for the Ballon d’Or,” the annual award given to the best footballer in the world. However, he added that reaching the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League will be crucial for the 31-year-old striker.
Bayern Munich, led by the “Three Lions” top scorer, will host Italian side Inter Milan on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, with the return leg scheduled for April 16.
Speaking from his home in Los Angeles on Monday in a call with AFP and other media outlets, the 60-year-old Klinsmann said: “If you at least make it to the semifinals, and maybe even win the Champions League, then everything else will follow naturally.”
Michael Owen was the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or, back in 2001.
Klinsmann, who like Kane made the move from Tottenham to Bayern, also pointed out the similarities in their club careers: “He has a similar situation to what I went through at club level. Before I left Tottenham and moved to Bayern, I hadn’t won any major trophies with a club.”
He continued: “I’ve always said that if Harry left Tottenham at some point, he’d have the chance to win titles with his new team.”
