Harry, my friend: Kohli celebrates Kane's Ballon d'Or win with heartfelt post

Virat Kohli congratulated his friend Harry Kane after the Bayern Munich striker won his maiden men's Ballon d'Or. Kohli praised Kane's resilience and his silent hard work and honesty throughout his career.Virat Kohli congratulates Harry Kane on Ballon d'Or win. (Photo: Instagram)New Delhi,Oct 27, 2026 11:30 ISTVirat Kohli congratulated his friend Harry Kane after the England captain won his maiden men's Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 26. In a social media post, Kohli recognised the Bayern Munich striker's hard work, resilience and consistency at the highest level of football.The India batter shared a heartfelt message for Kane following the award ceremony in London, celebrating the 33-year-old's achievement and praising the way he had conducted himself throughout his career.“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.Kane beat competition from Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to claim football's most prestigious individual honour. He became the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the men's award and only the fifth English player to do so, joining Owen, Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. The recognition capped the most prolific season of Kane's career. The Bayern Munich forward scored 61 goals in all competitions for the German club during the 2025-26 campaign, helping them win the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.Kane also scored 14 goals in the Champions League, although Bayern's campaign ended in the semi-finals against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he scored six goals as England finished third. The Ballon d'Or was accompanied by another individual honour for Kane, who was named Men's Striker of the Year. He also won the European Golden Shoe after finishing as the leading goalscorer across Europe's domestic leagues.KANE'S LONG JOURNEY TO BALLON D'ORKane's Ballon d'Or triumph marked a significant milestone in a career that saw him spend years chasing major honours before moving from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in 2023.The England captain had established himself as one of the world's most prolific forwards during his time in the Premier League, but his move to Germany brought a new chapter in his career. His goals and consistency helped Bayern enjoy a trophy-laden 2025-26 season, strengthening his case for the individual award.Kane acknowledged the competition he faced while accepting the trophy in London, thanking those who voted for him and his Bayern teammates for their contribution to his success.He also paid tribute to Bayern manager Vincent Kompany, who was recovering after collapsing during training, and thanked his wife, Kate, for supporting him throughout his career.For Kohli, the occasion offered an opportunity to celebrate a friend's achievement. The former India captain's message highlighted not just Kane's goalscoring record, but also the resilience and hard work that had taken him to the top of world football.- Ends