Victor Wanyama: Kane is the best striker I ever played with
Victor Wanyama says the crowning of England’s captain Harry Kane as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is well-deserved.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama says the crowning of England’s captain Harry Kane as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is well-deserved, describing him as the best striker he ever played with.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich hitman scooped the prestigious award at a ceremony held at the London Palladium on Monday night.
He became the first Englishman to win the coveted award in 25 years after Michael Owen in 2001.
Wanyama and Kane were teammates at English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur from June 2016 to March 2020. Kane was already an established star at the North London club when the former Harambee Stars defensive midfielder joined from Southampton.
Wanyama left Tottenham for Major League Soccer side CF Montreal.
“I think he is the best striker I have ever played with,” Wanyama who has since retired told Nation Sport on Tuesday.
Wanyama also said his former Spurs teammate always worked hard and was respectful to everyone. His teammates admired him, confessed the former AFC Leopards player.
Outside football, Wanyama said Kane was a quiet person.
“He had all the qualities in a good player and worked very hard. He could do everything. We always admired his hard work and the way he carried himself. He is someone people could learn a lot from,” Wanyama added.
In Wanyama’s debut campaign at Tottenham (2016/17), Kane reigned supreme with 29 goals, which earned him the EPL Golden Boot.
The England international had achieved the same feat the previous season with 25 goals. He repeated the top scoring feat in the 2020/21 campaign with 23 goals.
Despite his consistently impressive individual performances, Kane was denied team silverware as Tottenham always fell short of winning major trophies.
In 2023, he joined Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich where he continued to shine individually and finally enjoyed team success. Last season, the England captain produced the most prolific goal scoring act of his career, netting 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern across all competitions as the German giants completed a domestic league and cup double.
His Ballon d’Or award seemed inevitable.
