'A bitter runner-up finish' — How painful must it have been for Son Heung-min... Harry Kane's surprising remark: "I would trade the Ballon d'Or for the UCL trophy"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

He is willing to say that he would exchange the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) championship trophy. This underscores just how unimaginably intense Harry Kane's (33, Bayern Munich) thirst for the Big Ear is.

The British media outlet 'BBC' reported on the 3rd (Korean time), "Kane revealed that he would trade his Ballon d'Or trophy for a Champions League winning medal," adding, "Although Kane became the first English player since 2001 to win the Ballon d'Or, beating Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), reaching the pinnacle of European football remains his top priority."

It suggests that the regret from that day is still deeply embedded in his heart — the day when he had to swallow his tears after losing 0-2 to Liverpool in the first-ever Champions League final, alongside Son Heung-min, his soulmate from their Tottenham Hotspur days.

At an official press conference held ahead of the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Kane emphasized, "Team trophies are the reason we play football. In a team sport, the element of teamwork is incredibly important." He continued, "Winning the Ballon d'Or last week was one of the best moments of my life and career, but sharing the joy with my teammates and lifting the Champions League trophy with Munich would be an incredible feeling."

He showed no hesitation when asked what he would choose if forced to pick between a European Champions League title and the Ballon d'Or. "I would choose the Champions League," Kane stated definitively, adding, "The Ballon d'Or is the highest individual honor and has elevated me to a higher position, but everyone wants to share overwhelming emotions with their teammates in a big final like the Champions League."

Kane's such determination is closely tied to the painful frustration he experienced during his time at Tottenham. In 2018~2019, Kane and Son Heung-min stepped onto the Champions League final stage for the first time in club history. In that final, which was also Kane's return from injury, Tottenham lost 0-2 to Liverpool, finishing as runners-up. The memory of sitting on the ground in a daze alongside Son Heung-min after watching the Big Ear slip away remains an indelible wound for Kane. This is why he continues to yearn solely for the top spot in the Champions League, even after reaching the highest point in world football and claiming his greatest individual honor.

Meanwhile, Kane revealed that a contract renewal with Munich is imminent. After leaving Tottenham in August 2023 to join Munich for 100 million euros (approximately 150 billion won), Kane scored 73 goals across club and country last season, leading Munich to a domestic treble.

Kane stated, "I have had positive discussions with the club recently and am on the verge of signing the contract." He added, "The broad agreement is done; only details for the agents to coordinate remain. It will be concluded in days, not weeks."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original