Indian cricketer Virat Kohli praised England striker Harry Kane for his resilience, hard work, and honesty after the Bayern Munich forward won the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Kohli shared the message on X despite the backlash surrounding the award, congratulating Kane on his achievement and journey in football.
Kane also won the Gerd Müller Trophy for his goalscoring exploits during the 2025-26 season. Meanwhile, Kohli has returned to the nets ahead of Team India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand in early November, as the team continues its preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Virat Kohli Congratulates Harry Kane on Ballon d’Or Triumph
Virat Kohli praised Harry Kane’s journey and character, saying the England captain deserved the recognition for his sustained efforts in European football. The former India captain also extended his wishes to Kane’s family and congratulated him on his achievement.
"Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you would be of your own journey. My best wishes always. Congratulations," Kohli wrote.
Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you…
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 27, 2026
Kane ended a 25-year wait for an English winner of the Ballon d’Or. He became the fifth player from England to win the award, joining Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.
Kane ended a 25-year wait for an English winner of the Ballon d’Or. He became the fifth player from England to win the award, joining Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen.
Harry Kane Makes History With Ballon d’Or and Gerd Müller Trophy
Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or after an outstanding 2025-26 season with Bayern Munich and the England national team. He scored 73 goals and provided eight assists in 65 appearances across club and international football.
The striker also lifted the Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the leading goalscorer, completing a double at the ceremony. His tally was the second-highest number of goals scored by a player in a single season during the 21st century.
Kane also became the first player to win the Ballon d’Or while representing Bayern Munich. Kevin Keegan had previously won the award while playing for Hamburg in Germany, while Michael Owen was the last English recipient before Kane, claiming the honour in 2001.
Virat Kohli Prepares for New Zealand ODI Series
Virat Kohli has returned to the practice nets ahead of India's five-match ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin in early November. The series will form part of India's preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
The Indian batter has an impressive record against New Zealand in ODIs. He has scored nearly 1,900 runs in 36 matches at an average of around 58, including seven centuries and 10 half-centuries against the Black Caps.
He scored an unbeaten 154 during a successful chase at Mohali in 2016 and a 117-run innings in the 2023 World Cup semifinal in Mumbai, when he became the first player to score 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record.
During the three-match ODI series against the West Indies, Kohli scored a match-winning 139 off 88 balls in Thiruvananthapuram, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 157.95. He followed it with 29 off 19 balls before recording a first-ball duck in the final match.
