▲ Harry Kane with his Ballon d'Or
Harry Kane (33, Bayern Munich), who recently won the first Ballon d'Or of his career, has expressed his fierce desire for team glory, stating he would gladly trade his Ballon d'Or for a UEFA Champions League (UCL) title.
Speaking at a press conference held in Madrid, Spain, on the 3rd (Korean time), a day ahead of their 2026-2027 UCL away match against Atletico Madrid (Spain), Kane said, "Winning the Ballon d'Or is one of the greatest moments of my career, but if I could lift the Champions League trophy with my teammates at Munich, I would choose the trophy over the Ballon d'Or."
He showed confidence by adding, "Individual awards also help me grow to the next level, but the ultimate reason we play football is for team trophies. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to achieve both."
Metropolitano Stadium, Atletico's home ground where the match will take place, holds painful memories for Kane.
It is the venue where he suffered a runner-up defeat in the 2019 UCL final while playing for Tottenham against Liverpool (both from England).
Coincidentally, this season's UCL final will also be held at this very stadium.
Kane expressed his determination, saying, "I hope to return here at the end of the season for the UCL final. It's an opportunity to erase the painful memories of 2019."
He also shared an optimistic outlook regarding his impending contract extension with Munich.
"Contract renewal seems like it will happen in days rather than weeks," he stated, adding that "it is very close."
Kane's current contract runs until June 2027.
Meanwhile, Munich has struggled to get off to a strong start in this season's UCL league phase, picking up just 1 win and 2 draws from their opening 3 matches, including draws against Arsenal (England) and Viking (Norway).
Though they are aiming for a victory, conditions remain far from ideal ahead of this match.
While starting goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Michael Olise, who missed four games due to a foot injury, have shaken off their injury concerns and traveled with the squad for the away trip, squad depletion remains significant.
Luis Diaz and Jamal Musiala, who are recovering from muscle injuries, only underwent individual training and were left off the away roster.
They also have to contend with the adverse factor of playing without their manager.
Manager Vincent Kompany, who collapsed during training and received hospital treatment, was discharged last week, but assistant manager Aaron Danks will once again sit on the bench as acting manager for this match.
As national team defender Kim Min-jae has been named to Munich's away roster alongside expectations for Atletico's Lee Kang-in to take the pitch, anticipation is building over whether a "Korean derby" will take place on the Champions League stage.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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