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Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or victory has opened the door to a rare honour that no English footballer has claimed in 33 years. The captain’s achievement on Monday night in London has already triggered speculation about what recognition could follow.
Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career, beating out competition from Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to claim the prize. England’s record goalscorer now finds himself at the centre of a different conversation: whether this individual honour could pave the way for a knighthood.
A Downing Street spokesperson declined to rule out Kane receiving a knighthood in the New Year’s honours list, stating only that they would not ‘pre-empt the honours process’. That response leaves the door open without offering confirmation either way. Should Kane be knighted, he would break a pattern among English Ballon d’Or winners that has held for 33 years.
When was the last English Ballon d’Or winner knighted?
Sir Bobby Charlton lifted the Ballon d’Or in 1966 following England’s World Cup success. He waited almost 28 years before being knighted in the 1994 Birthday Honours ‘for services to sport, particularly association football’.
Charlton held a CBE at the time of his Ballon d’Or win, the third-highest class in the British honours system. Kane would jump significantly further up the ranks if knighted, since he currently holds an MBE, the fifth-highest class available.
Kevin Keegan remains the only two-time English winner of the Ballon d’Or, yet his honour never rose above an OBE, the fourth-highest class. Calls emerged for Keegan to receive a posthumous knighthood after the former Newcastle and England manager passed away earlier this year.
Sir Stanley Matthews, whose 1956 victory inspired this year’s 70th anniversary Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, had a shorter wait than Charlton. He was made an OBE a year after his win and knighted in 1967.
Michael Owen stands as the only English Ballon d’Or winner never to receive any honour at all. He claimed the award back in 2001 and has remained without recognition since.
Why did Kevin Keegan never receive a knighthood – and which English footballers have?
Keegan received his MBE in 1982 while still playing. At 31, he was closing in on the First Division’s top scorer title, netting 26 goals for Southampton during the 1981/82 campaign.
The reasons behind Keegan never receiving a knighthood were never made public. He himself avoided direct comment on the matter, though he did address the broader pressure of English football after taking the England manager’s job full-time in 1999.
“I know what comes with the job. I know the upside and downside. In this country people get very emotional about football and that’s what I like about it. It’s my job not to get beheaded. I don’t want a knighthood but I want to keep my head on my shoulders.”
Ten other English players or managers have received knighthoods for services to football or sport: David Beckham, Trevor Brooking, Matt Busby, Charles Clegg, Tom Finney, Geoff Hurst, Alf Ramsey, Bobby Robson, Gareth Southgate and Walter Winterbottom.
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Whether Kane joins that list remains to be seen, but his Ballon d’Or win has already placed the question firmly on the agenda. Keep following TipsGG for updates on Kane’s honours status and every major football storyline as it develops.