Harry Kane is currently the favorite among bookmakers to win the Ballon d'Or, a prestigious award given annually to the world's best footballer. His impressive performance in the 2025-26 season, which saw him score 73 goals across club and country, has placed him at the forefront of the race. The final shortlist for the award is expected to be announced soon, but historical trends suggest that success in major tournaments often plays a significant role in the voting process. The Ballon d'Or, created in 1956 by French journalist Gabriel Hanot, was initially awarded to European players only, with the first recipient being England's Sir Stanley Matthews. In 1995, the award was opened to players of all nationalities. Since its inception, the award has frequently gone to players who have excelled in major global or continental competitions, especially during World Cup years. For example, Raymond Kopa became the first Ballon d'Or winner in a World Cup year after helping France reach the 1958 semi-finals. Looking back, many of the award's recipients have lifted the World Cup, including Bobby Charlton (1966), Paolo Rossi (1982), and Zinedine Zidane (1998). Even those who didn't win the tournament often had notable performances, such as Johan Cruyff in 1974 and Luka Modric in 2018. However, there have been exceptions, such as Kevin Keegan, who won the 1978 Ballon d'Or despite England's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Success in other major tournaments has also played a crucial role in recent Ballon d'Or decisions. In fact, only four of the previous 19 winners failed to lift a major trophy like the World Cup, European Championship, or Champions League in the year they won. Among these exceptions were Lionel Messi, who won the award in 2010, 2012, and 2019 without major international success, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who won in 2013 despite Portugal's World Cup exit. Kane's 2025-26 season stands out as particularly unique. He scored more goals than any other European player from the top five leagues, surpassing legends like Gerd Müller and Cristiano Ronaldo. His performance helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, while England finished third at the World Cup. His strongest rivals include Rodri, who won the Golden Ball at the World Cup, and Lamine Yamal, who contributed to Spain's World Cup victory and Barcelona's La Liga title. Other notable contenders include Kylian Mbappé and Messi, both of whom had standout seasons. If Kane wins, he would become only the fifth Englishman to claim the Ballon d'Or and the first Bundesliga player to do so in over two decades.