'I remember saying to him...' - Owen Hargreaves reveals Harry Kane conversation that shows Bayern Munich's striker 'astonishing' transformation
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By Ben Grounds
Published 02/11/2026 at 12:29 GMT
Harry Kane's journey to Ballon d'Or glory has been anything but conventional, with Owen Hargreaves explaining why the England captain's remarkable achievement is different to those of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal.
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For much of the modern era, the Ballon d'Or has been dominated by players seemingly destined for greatness from the moment they first kicked a football.
Messi and Ronaldo set extraordinary standards, while Barcelona sensation Yamal is already being tipped to become the next global superstar.
But Kane's path to the summit has been rather different.
The Bayern Munich striker completed a remarkable rise to the top of the game by claiming the 2026 Ballon d'Or, capping a season in which he scored an astonishing 73 goals.
Former Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves believes that is precisely what makes Kane's achievement so special, pointing to the very different career trajectories of the game's biggest names.
"Normally, these guys are like Messi and Ronaldo and Yamal – just born with this gift, and obviously they continue to get better," he told TNT Sports.
Kane's development was far from the straightforward progression enjoyed by some of football's most naturally gifted talents.
After joining Tottenham Hotspur's academy, he was sent out on loan to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City, gaining valuable first-team experience before eventually establishing himself in the Spurs side.
Those spells proved crucial to his development, giving him the opportunity to learn his trade away from the spotlight and overcome doubts about his ability before eventually becoming one of the most prolific forwards in world football.
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Harry Kane with the Ballon d'Or at the 2026 ceremony
Image credit: Getty Images
Hargreaves highlighted those formative years when explaining why Kane's route to the top was so different.
"Harry's journey was very different," Hargreaves said. "He went out on four loan spells, including Leicester, and had to work his way up."
The former Bayern midfielder even recalled a conversation with Kane in which he highlighted just how extraordinary his latest achievement would have sounded earlier in his career.
Hargreaves added: "I remember saying to him 'if I'd told you during one of those loan spells that you would score 73 goals in your entire career, you probably would have taken that'. To do that in one season is astonishing."
Kane admitted he had spent years watching Messi and wondering how the Argentine managed to produce such extraordinary numbers.
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But Hargreaves believes the England captain's evolution has been just as impressive, with his ability to adapt and improve allowing him to reach previously unthinkable levels.
"When you play with better players and go deeper into competitions, those 30 goals can become 40, 50, 60 or 70," he explained.
"That's what has happened. He's now got Luis Diaz on the left, Michael Olise on the right, and Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich behind him."
It is a testament to Kane's development that his contribution extends well beyond his goalscoring. Hargreaves pointed to his performance against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League as an example, highlighting how the striker's ability to create opportunities has become another defining feature of his game.
"He's got 73 goals, and he's playing almost as a No. 10, producing some absolutely remarkable passes," he said.
There has also been a determination to prove his critics wrong.
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Kane: I would not have won Ballon d'Or without Bayern Munich
Video credit: SNTV
Kane was not always viewed as a future Ballon d'Or winner.
Yet his dedication to improving every aspect of his game has helped him become one of the most complete forwards of his generation.
"He hasn't been the golden child," Hargreaves added. "He's had to work his way up, go out on all those loan spells and fight for his place at Tottenham.
"People always said he wasn't quick enough, he wasn't athletic enough and all those things. But look at the attention to detail and the work he puts into his body and his craft."
For Hargreaves, that is what makes Kane's story such an inspiring one.
"Particularly for a young player, it's not all about talent," Hargreaves said. "You've got to put the work in as well, and Harry just keeps getting better and better."
The question of where Kane's 73-goal campaign ranks alongside the greatest individual seasons of Messi and Ronaldo is likely going to be debated.
Hargreaves believes the former Spurs striker's achievement deserves to be mentioned among the best, but is reluctant to place it above the extraordinary peaks reached by the two modern greats.
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"I just think his season belongs up there," Hargreaves said. "But prime Messi and Ronaldo are in a slightly different category."
Kane may not have followed the conventional route to football's highest individual honour, but his professionalism and continued evolution have taken him somewhere few could have predicted.
Hargreaves believes there could yet be more to come.
"Harry is only getting better," he ended. "He's only 33, and he could certainly have another season like this. If he could finally win the Champions League, he could easily be in the conversation again."
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