HARRY KANE WINS THE BALLON D’OR… DID HE DESERVE IT? 🏆 Our Reaction!

Project 90 Soccer: something is finally coming home for England.

Marco: My thoughts were they were gonna go with Mbappe, maybe even Lamin

Project 90 Soccer: we're definitely not gonna see a trophy for another 40 years for England.

Marco: 33 years old, 73 goals,

Project 90 Soccer: There is a strong argument that Killing Mbappe does deserve a Balloon d'or.

Marco: you can only handle the trophy to one person.

Project 90 Soccer: Welcome to another episode of the Project 90 Soccer Podcast. My name is Antonio, and I'm here with Marco Antonio Munoz with the is that the goalkeeper kit? Sac Republic? What is that? Goalkeeper

Marco: Goalkeeper baby, let's go.

Project 90 Soccer: kit for Sack Republic. Shout out. Today we have a special episode. We just saw the results of the balone door. Harry Kane, first winner for England since Michael Owen in 2001. It's finally, man, something is finally coming home for England. Marco, beat he just beat Mbappe, La Minha Mall. Some big names are up there. There's a lot of talk about who was going to take this one home. I was pretty convinced it'd be Harry Kane based off his individual season performance with England with Bayern. A lot of people might disagree with that, though. What is your initial reaction to this victory for Harry Kane?

Marco: It couldn't happen to a better guy. My thoughts were they were gonna go with Mbappe, maybe even Lamin Laminima because he won the World Cup. Because Antho, yes, he plays for Bayern Munich, but what did they say about anything outside of the English Premier League and the Spain? The everything else is underneath. So huge shout out to Harry Kane. The trophy is coming home, and you know what? They the Ballon d'Or, so now we're never gonna see a World Cup for England.

Project 90 Soccer: Now we're definitely not gonna see a trophy for another 40 years for England. Unbelievable, man. His individual club numbers that that led to him winning this, he had seventy-three goals for club and country, sixty-one of them came for Bayern, 12 of them for England. He had obviously six goals this past World Cup. look, Harry Kane, I think he fully deserved it. I thought that from the start. I didn't always look at the Balon d'Or as something as you need to win the World Cup, you need to win these major trophies. Although that does matter when they do go to vote and decide who wins this. He did win the the Bundesliga, also the domestic cup, the German cup for in Germany. They reached the semis in the Champions League, obviously World Cup. We saw them get knocked out in the semis. but look, man, I mean, overall as a player, beyond the numbers, he contributes to the team. He's a playmaker. He's not just the striker in the box waiting for the ball. He does a lot. And yes, it is the German league, right? It's kind of looked at similar to you can say maybe not as bad as the French league. You know, they're all still top leagues, obviously, but the Premier League, the SEA, Spain, they always get the the the nod to be sort of the top tier leagues in the world. But seeing Harry Kane win this, I think he's fully deserved it. I think he deserved it from the start when he was listed as one of the favorites. but Lamin Yamal, man, Killing Mbappe. Do you think Killing Mbappe got snubbed?

Marco: Don't think so. Harry Kane also won the striker of the year world award. So it had to go hand in hand though. And I got the numbers for you. 33 years old, 73 goals, 25, 20, 26 season, 500 career goals already, a hundred Bayern Munich goals already in his short time there, three consecutive Bundesliga golden boots. Should I should I should I keep going? I mean you

Project 90 Soccer: it's yeah.

Marco: You said it yourself, Anto. Since 2001, Michael Owen, when he was playing with Liverpool before making the move to Real Madrid, that was the last English inside the Premier League player. And I get it, more credit for Harry Kane because he won it not playing the Premier League. Bar Munich, although they're very dominant in the Bundesliga, they play every competitive tournament. The the the Champions League, right? The Club World Cup when it comes around. So these guys are consistently and continuously playing. Playing against these top elite teams. And Harry Kane has demonstrated that no matter who he is up against, he shows up not only to score goals, but to your point, he's transitioning into now a guy who's consistently contributing because part of his seven 70 plus goals last year, I think about eight of them were assists. So this guy, man, it a a better move couldn't have happened to him than then going Byron Munich.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, right here I have goal involvements all around. this includes goal assists. He had eighty-one goal contributions in some way, shape, or form. So,

Marco: There we go.

Project 90 Soccer: like you're saying, like he had a fantastic season, but we've seen this from Harry Kane for years now. For years, he has been that player. He has been a great player, he's been a good forward. So ever since his Tottenham days, it was clear that this player was gonna move on to bigger and better things. He moved over to Bayern, and ever since he got to Bayern, he's just been their main man, their number nine. And he's really getting it done for them. And for Mbappe, he just got his hundredth goal with Real Madrid. He just had a amazing World Cup with France. He's had amazing World Cups going back with France, right? He's making the finals, winning the World Cup as well. And he seems to have not been able to win one. And this may be obviously due to Messi still being around in his prime. There are other players. That's a whole nother sort of topic in itself. But There is a strong argument that Killing Mbappe does deserve a Balloon d'or. I don't disagree with that, but if we're looking at just last season, what this was based on, I think Harry Kane fully deserved it. killing Mbappe, it's one of those things where he is always good. He is consistent as well. The man leads his national team. but what are you gonna do, man? What do you you can't you can't always win every single award, unfortunately. But is he worthy of winning the Balone d'Or? Sure. But I think

Marco: One hundred percent.

Project 90 Soccer: Harry Kane, man. Harry Kane fully deserved this one. And it was interesting to see that obviously there were other names that were mentioned. Michael Elise, Messi again, Vadashkilia, Holland, Rodri. but at the end of the day, it was, it was all Harry Kane. Are you surprised though that you didn't see see Rodri in there as like a real contender for this? Considering, yeah, I know he came back from injury, you know, but he did go to the World Cup and had an amazing World Cup. Obviously best player of the tournament. They won the World Cup. but do you think his prior season being injured, that's really what impacted it? And do you think that if he had a full season with Man City leading into the World Cup, would we be would we be saying that Roger won another Bologna d'Or today?

Marco: Don't think it would have gone back to back. Rodri, he he won the award at, but Roger is also one of those guys. I this is they may this may be his only time that he won it on the

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: year the year that he won it, right? So versus Harry Kane, I mean, don't think anybody would have beat it the season that he had last season. national team aside, he did everything he needed to do at the club level to win this award award. And if we're strictly basing it off on a World Cup year. and if that weighs as much as I thought it did, honestly, I thought it weighed a a a certain amount, then maybe he wouldn't be the one receiving it, it'd be somebody else. But I'm glad that the that the voters got it right, in my opinion. That's just what I think. that that he got it. I mean, did say potentially that he may not, because you know, politics they exist.

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: but yeah, I mean he just had such an amazing year where I don't think anything would have taken it away from him, even Roger or Laminia Ball, I mean, example. He was a breakout breakout star the past couple of years and he went to World Cup and won. but going back to your point that you're that you're alluding to with Mbappé, this like the typical goat talk right now. Harry

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: Kane is one A from last season, because this is a new

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: season, and Mbappe last year ended up one B. So they're both still number one, but you can only handle the trophy to one person.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. I think they made the right decision as well. And there were other other awards that were given today. I just want to go over this real quick for the the women's balloon d'or. Alexia Puteyas won her third one. She won back in two thousand twenty one, two thousand twenty two. She's obviously a big name in the women's game, getting her third Ballon d'Or today. Harry Kane also got the Gerd Mueller trophy, leading goal scorer, alongside the Ballon d'Or. Lemin Yamall. He did get a trophy today. Men's Young Talent, the Copa trophy. He's won three consecutive ones: 2024, 2025, 2026. If he was a bit older, you know, maybe there'd be a different discussion. Maybe there'd be more of an uproar at the fact that he didn't win today. But I think a lot of people can let it slide, considering he's still his age. But he needs to, I think, prove a little more in the next couple of years. But I think he's going to be in that. In that top three list, top five lists at least for the next 10 years, if everything keeps going the way it is. Unay Simon, best goalkeeper award, Yashin Trophy, Luis de la Fuente getting best men's coach, Pere Romeu, the best women's coach, the Johan Croyf Trophy, the best men's club of the year was Paris Saint Germain, best women's club of the year, FC Barcelona, and the Socrates Award, honored for humanitarian work and social impact, Bukayo.

Marco: Buyako

Project 90 Soccer: Sakka, Sakka and there are other notable names.

Marco: Bukayo Bukayo. We forgot one person.

Project 90 Soccer: What's up?

Marco: Best female striker from Mexico for Club Deportivo Pachuca. Charlene, I forgot your last name.

Project 90 Soccer: Corral.

Marco: Corral, I was gonna say Cortes Corral. Shout out to you.

Project 90 Soccer: Corral. Yes. Scoring achievements with Pachuca. And we also have this one right here. women's best young talent Copa Trophy, Vicky Lopez with Barcelona. The Barcelona women's team, they seem to always bring in the Balon d'Or. It's been

Marco: Mm-hmm.

Project 90 Soccer: just year after year. There was Bon Monti as well, who's winning the Ballondors. so yeah, man, look, Copa Trophy, Laminima got up there. He said that he thought Pauku Barsi deserved it. I would honestly agree with him, especially after the World Cup. Dude's 19 years old, played every single game. Absolute beast. I think considering he had a much better World Cup than Lamin Yamal did, even though they're different positions, I would have liked to see Kubarsi win it. but fair, yeah.

Marco: Antho Antho Anto Barcelona didn't think he was gonna win it. I was reading yesterday, they didn't even let him go make the trip. They were like, hey man, you're just gonna you're just gonna sit down and rest. So shout out to Lamine for being such a good teammate and giving his boy some credit because Gubarsi is that dog.

Project 90 Soccer: He is that dog. And Harry Kane winning it, classy man that he is, always been, thanking his teammates, his coaches, acknowledging couldn't have happened, couldn't have scored all these goals without his Bayern teammates and England teammates, which is valid, Let's be honest here. Ain't nobody gonna be scoring eighty one goals without having a good team around them. So props to him, man. Congratulations to Harry Kane. Marco We wanna just do a quick little Bollow and door shout out for Harry Kane, go over what we thought, our thoughts, our reaction. Do you have any last words or any comments that you wanna make?

Marco: Anto, Anto, Anto, does this make Harry Kane arguably the greatest English striker we have ever seen, they have ever had? You have the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Alan Shear, a conglomerate of

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: English strikers, right? Does this make Harry Kane or does he go into the discussion of the top three? You also gotta name me the top two, Anto, the top three of greatest strikers England has ever seen.

Project 90 Soccer: I'm gonna take you one step further there, Marco, 'cause what I think I think Harry Kane might be the best English player of all time.

Marco: Ooh, that's saying a lot.

Project 90 Soccer: That's what I think. That's saying a lot, but if you look at the numbers he continuously

Marco: Seen a lot.

Project 90 Soccer: puts up currently as we speak, now this can change in the next five to ten years here with Jude Bellingham's a bit younger of a player. You have some great players on England. And the only person that I really see challenging that currently, right now, is possibly Jude Bellingham. Okay. But if if if you're gonna ask if he's the best striker England has ever seen.

Marco: The

Project 90 Soccer: I'd have to say yes, he's the best English striker, but I I think there is a fair argument that Harry Kane might be the best English player that we have ever seen. Yeah. That's what I think. Who

Marco: Noted. Noted.

Project 90 Soccer: do you what I mean? Do you think Jude Bellingham at some point can see he's a midfielder, right? He's not going to be scoring goals like Harry

Marco: Different positions, uh-huh.

Project 90 Soccer: Kane. But if we're talking the GOAT of English soccer of all time, I'd have to say in a in a in a top five or at a at minimum a top ten discussion. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are already in it. Okay. Now top five may be a different story. My opinion's obviously I think Harry Kane is really working his way at the the the back end of his career right now to becoming the best English player of all time. But what do you think?

Marco: Also, also, maybe my question, I'm also saying, do you need to

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: win, do you need to win a Ballon d'Or to be considered the best, right? Not just for the year, but the best in your position

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: in your position. I think I don't know, man. This one's a tough one. I think Wayne Rooney right there is top three for me. But

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: Wayne Rooney never won this this achievement.

Project 90 Soccer: Wayne Rooney also did he put up numbers like this though? You know what

Marco: Wayne Rooney

Project 90 Soccer: I'm

Marco: also contributed a little bit different, right? He used to come down closer to the midfield. You would see him also. you saw with DC United when he came to the MLS. He would fucking

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: fight for a ball. If it was a last guy, he would chase him down. So his style of play was a little different. Yes, his goals had a little bit more of a flair to him when he was younger, when he was with his with the in his career with with Man United. But to your point, Rayanta, I would have to agree. I wouldn't say Kane is the best English player ever. We'd have to go back And really take a look at that, at least I would have to. But as of right now, I would say, and please kill me the comments. remind remind me of of other great strikers I've won this achievement outside of Michael Owen, but I think he is the greatest English striker they and myself have seen in my thirty seven years of me knowing football.

Project 90 Soccer: Hey, that's a valid that's a valid opinion. And my only reasoning for thinking Harry Kane is gonna s surpass that and ultimately become that greatest England player is because is because of what he's achieved with England as well. Right. There was the golden generation there for Wayne Rooney, as everyone called it. International soccer at the time, they had a lot of good teams out there between the Germanys, the Spains, Italy's. so Wayne Rooney and and entire the entire England team, they never really made it to any finals. They never lived up to what that hype was for that team. But now you see Harry Kane again, they still haven't won anything. But they're they're yeah, they haven't.

Marco: I was just gonna say they haven't lived up to it either. Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: So they could that could be a deciding factor, but they have been a far better team. I think they've been considered the favorites far more often than England ever was in Wayne Rooney's time, making the Eurofinals. making it far into the World Cup very convincingly as well. So, I think we're gonna have to wait till the whole career concludes because if Harry Kane continues this form for the next three, four years into his mid to late thirties, and let's say

Marco: He can.

Project 90 Soccer: with England in with England, maybe they make another final, maybe they actually win a trophy. If that's the case and they actually do win an international trophy, I think in terms of England's best player of all time, I think Harry Kane's gonna walk away with it until somebody Potentially Jude Bellingham, potentially someone else comes around and just blows it out of the water.

Marco: Who comes to a close number three for me because of the swag he had, the tremendous skyrocket career that he had, and now he's playing in the championship is Jamie Vardy.

Project 90 Soccer: Dude, Jamie Vardy was a firework, dude. that's the kind of guy, unfortunately.

Marco: no

Project 90 Soccer: If he had a if he had a 15 year, 20 year career that was just started when he was like 19, early 20s, because he made he was in the Premier League at 25, you know what mean? And then at the same time, though, I think Jamie Vardy's the kind of guy that just gives no fucks. So he's just like, I'm just here to fuck shit up type of guy. but man, was he's so

Marco: For my for

Project 90 Soccer: exciting to watch.

Marco: for our listeners, I was clearly kidding. Clearly, clearly kidding.

Project 90 Soccer: Nah, dude, you're serious. Dude, Jamie Vardy could easily have been if if England would have took him more serious, bro, he would have took them to the top.

Marco: Anto, and let me tell you this, man. I really thought Harry Kane was gonna be one of those guys like the Slatans of the world. g goats, they're still considered goats, right? Because they were just amazing players. That was just never gonna win the trophy. And

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: you could just see his reaction when when they called out his name. And who better to to call his name than R9, Ronaldo El Fenomeno?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: one of the greatest strikers we have ever seen as well.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: call his name and man, again, Harry Kane. Shout out to you. It's truly a treat watching you play and how you make people around you better.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, and speaking of that, Mbappe might become that player, right? That is legendary but never ever wins the Balon Door. But we'll have to

Marco: Na yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: see. We'll have to see. Not yet. Anything can happen. But that's it for this episode. Quick little Balondor recap. If you enjoy the show, if you're new to the show, if you're returning from the show, whatever it might be, leave a comment, like the video, share it with your friends. If you're new here, like, subscribe, comment. tell us what you think. Tell us what you thought of the Bologna results. If you want to find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, head over to Project90Soccer.com. You can find us there, all of our links, you can find out more things about the show. But that is it for this episode. We will be back very, very soon touching on some more stories. But until then, this has been another great episode of Project 90 Soccer. Peace.