We are absolutely delighted to see Harry Kane named among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
His achievements on the pitch over the past season speak for themselves. But what has stood out just as much is the way Harry leads. At the World Cup, he was an inspiration not simply because of what he did with the ball, but because of the tone he set — calm, grounded, focused and always leading by example.
Leading by example
There is a grounded presence Harry brings that reaches far beyond individual performances. In moments of pressure, success and disappointment, he shows what leadership can look like: how you carry yourself, how you respond, and how you contribute to the people around you.
Another side of Harry
At Bounce Forward, we have also been fortunate to see another side of Harry over the four years that the Harry Kane Foundation has supported our work with children, schools and families.
In partnership with the Harry Kane Foundation
People know Harry Kane the footballer. What they don't always see is the quiet, thoughtful commitment he makes away from the pitch.
We can prepare children for life by helping them develop the psychological skills and capacity they can draw on as they grow.
His support has helped us influence the wider conversation about how we support children and young people — moving beyond a model focused predominantly on difficulty and crisis, towards one that deliberately builds capacity as part of healthy development.
At the heart of that is a simple but important idea: children can develop the capacity to regulate, recover and adapt — to understand themselves, navigate challenge and change, make choices and grow in confidence and agency over time.
A different narrative about mental health
For someone with Harry's profile to stand behind that message matters. It gives weight and visibility to a different narrative about mental health: one that is not only about what we do when things go wrong, but about what we can build throughout childhood.
And whenever Harry has spoken directly to children, teachers or parents, what has stood out to us is how grounded he is. He talks honestly about setbacks, relationships, family, choices and the small things in life that matter — and about the fact that every one of us can influence others through how we live and how we treat people.
So yes, we celebrate the goals, the trophies and an incredible season.
But we also celebrate the person we have come to know through this partnership — grounded, thoughtful and committed to using his influence to make a difference well beyond the pitch.
A hugely deserved Ballon d'Or nomination. Congratulations, Harry. ⚽👏
