Before the international break, Kane gave an interview to French media outlet Téléfoot, discussing the Ballon d'Or race, his personal character, last season being one of his best, his pride in achieving numbers comparable to Messi and Ronaldo, the Champions League being a major goal for Bayern, his desire to win a major tournament with England, the Ballon d'Or becoming a personal goal, and his gratitude to Ferdinand for publicly supporting his candidacy. The following is the first part of this exclusive interview.

Reporter: You are one of the most famous footballers today, yet you are very low-key, introverted, and even a bit mysterious. Why do you think that is?

Kane: To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I think it's purely down to my personality. Growing up, I've always focused on training hard and maintaining the discipline and professionalism required of a footballer. Of course, I also enjoy life outside of football; I have a wonderful family and many close friends, and I look forward to spending time with them during the break. I also play golf sometimes. But I'm definitely not someone who likes to publicize my private life; I prefer to protect it. As a professional player, there's immense pressure and responsibility, so it's crucial to be able to completely relax at home and not always be in the spotlight. I've always strived to maintain a low profile, and my family and I enjoy that.

Reporter: What do you think people don't know about Kane?

Kane: I honestly don't know. Actually, I've mentioned before that I'm quite humorous and witty in private; I think I'm a pretty funny person. But perhaps people rarely see this side of me because I often appear serious, whether in interviews or on the pitch. However, I believe my teammates would definitely say that I have a completely different side to me.

Reporter: You've been scoring goals at an incredible rate. Last season, you scored an impressive 73 goals. Such impressive statistics speak louder than words.

Kane: Yes, last season was an incredible year on all fronts. Personally, being able to score so many goals, many of which were crucial, was very significant for both England and Bayern Munich. In terms of team honors, it was also the year I won the most trophies in a single season in my career, winning a cup and reclaiming the DFB-Pokal for Bayern after six years. All these experiences are extremely precious to me. And competing in the World Cup against teams like DR Congo, Mexico, and Norway left so many unforgettable memories that I believe I'll cherish for a lifetime. This season will always hold a special place in my heart.

Reporter: Was that your best season to date in your career?

Kane: I believe so. The statistics are there for all to see, and while you can't judge a player solely by stats, looking at the team's performance and the quality of our games, we went very far in the Champions League, narrowly losing to a strong Paris Saint-Germain, and that semi-final was an extremely tough battle. But as I said, it was the year I won the most trophies in a single season, and performing at that level in a World Cup year means a lot to me.

Reporter: And you also won the European Golden Shoe, which is truly amazing.

Kane: Indeed. I grew up watching Messi and Ronaldo; they dominated the sport for so long, and their goal-scoring numbers were extraordinary. It was a joy to watch them play. Frankly, when I was a teenager watching them, I never thought I would one day reach that level, but I did. I am deeply proud of that because it's the result of unimaginable hard work and dedication. People often only see the finished product—me running on the pitch—but behind the scenes, I have a huge support team, and we put in tremendous effort to stay in peak physical condition and always be ready for the team. Scoring goals comes from high-intensity training day in and day out. When you achieve such a milestone, you really should be grateful and cherish it.

Reporter: Is the team's focus now on winning more trophies with Bayern? For example, is winning the Champions League the top priority?

Kane: Yes, that is our core team goal. As I said, last season was tough, but we actually performed very well in the Champions League, steadily progressing from the group stage into the knockout rounds. Paris Saint-Germain is a top team and had the upper hand in the semi-finals. So this year, the entire team is filled with a strong desire to win, eager to bounce back and compete for that "big-eared" trophy. Bayern Munich has won the Champions League six times in its history, and its rich winning tradition is undeniable; we know it's entirely possible. But we also know that competing in the Champions League requires extremely hard work—like climbing a towering mountain—and we've only just taken the first step; we absolutely cannot get complacent. Fortunately, in this team, under the coach's leadership, we are both hungry and humble. We just want to keep motivating each other, pushing our limits, to see how high we can climb, and carry this momentum throughout the entire Champions League season.

Reporter: Is it also your long-cherished dream to lead England to win a major tournament? Especially with the next European Championship being held on home soil?

Kane: Yes, that is an incredibly grand dream of mine. In my England career, we have come incredibly close to the highest honors multiple times. Of course, another World Cup elimination was heartbreaking, and while there were many things to be proud of, the exit was still bitter and hard to digest. We still have the Nations League to play, but everyone is undoubtedly looking forward to the European Championship being held on home soil; it will be absolutely electric. We experienced a similar atmosphere during Euro 2020, and although many matches were played at Wembley with limited capacity due to the pandemic, the atmosphere was still incredibly passionate. So to be able to play in front of full crowds in England and across the UK, I genuinely can't wait.

Reporter: Do you know who the last player to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for Bayern Munich was?

Kane: Someone just mentioned it to me recently. Was it Rummenigge?

Reporter: Exactly, exactly 45 years ago.

Kane: That's certainly a very long time ago. Considering all the great legendary players who have come through Bayern's history, it truly has been a long time. But...let's wait and see what happens next.

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