Before the international break, Kane granted an interview to French media outlet Téléfoot, discussing topics including the race for the Ballon d'Or, his personal character, last season as one of his best, his pride in reaching numbers comparable to Messi and Ronaldo, the Champions League as a key objective for Bayern Munich, his desire to win a major trophy with England, the Ballon d'Or becoming a personal goal, and his gratitude to Ferdinand for publicly campaigning for him. Below is the first part of the exclusive interview.

Reporter: You are one of the most famous footballers today, yet you remain very modest, reserved, and somewhat mysterious. Why do you think that is?

Kane: To be honest, I'm not sure. I think it's purely my personality. Ever since I was young, I've always focused on training hard and maintaining the focus and professionalism of a footballer. Of course, I also enjoy life outside football; I have a wonderful family and many close friends, and I can spend quality time with them during breaks. I also play golf sometimes. But I'm definitely not someone who likes to broadcast my private life; I prefer to protect my privacy. As a professional player, there's immense pressure and responsibility, so being able to completely relax at home and not constantly be in the spotlight is crucial. I've always tried to keep a low profile, and my family and I enjoy that.

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

Kane: I'm not really sure. Actually, I've mentioned before that I'm quite witty and humorous in private; I think I'm quite a funny person. But perhaps people rarely see that side of me because I often appear serious, whether in interviews or on the pitch. But I believe my teammates would tell you I have a very different side to me.

Reporter: You've been scoring goals like crazy, netting 73 times in the last season. These incredible numbers speak for themselves.

Kane: Yes, last season was an amazing year in every way. From a personal perspective, being able to score so many goals, including many crucial ones, was extremely significant for both England and Bayern Munich. In terms of team honours, it was also the year I won the most trophies in a single season in my career, including cup titles, and bringing the German Cup back to Bayern after six years... All of these experiences are incredibly precious to me. And the games in the World Cup against teams like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and Norway created so many unforgettable and beautiful memories that I think I'll treasure them for life. This season will always have an irreplaceable place in my heart.

Reporter: Was this your best season in your career so far?

Kane: I think so. The statistics are there for everyone to see, and while you can't judge a player solely by numbers, looking at the team's performance and the quality of our matches, we went far in the Champions League, coming close against a strong Paris Saint-Germain, and that semifinal was an extremely difficult battle. But, as I said, this was the year I won the most trophies in a single season, and performing like that in a World Cup year means a lot to me.

Reporter: And you also won the European Golden Boot, which is truly incredible.

Kane: Indeed. I grew up watching Messi and Ronaldo dominate the sport for so long, and their goal-scoring numbers at the time were miraculous; it was a joy to watch them play. Frankly, when I watched them as a teenager, I never thought I'd one day reach that level, but I did. I'm incredibly proud of that because it required an unimaginable amount of hard work. People usually only see the end product—me running on the pitch—but behind the scenes, I have an enormous support team, and we dedicate immense effort just to keep ourselves in peak physical condition, ready to perform for the team at any moment. Scoring goals comes from intense training, day in and day out. When you reach a milestone like that, you must be truly grateful and value it.

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

Kane: Yes, that's our central objective as a team. As I just mentioned, last season was challenging, but we actually performed very well in the Champions League, progressing steadily from the group stage through the knockout rounds. Paris Saint-Germain is a top team and got the better of us in the semifinals. So this year, the entire team is filled with a strong desire to win, eager to bounce back and compete for that trophy with the big ears. Bayern Munich has won the Champions League six times in its history, and its deep championship heritage is undeniable; we know it's entirely possible. But we also know that competing in the Champions League requires incredibly hard work; it's like a towering mountain, and we've only taken the first step, so we absolutely cannot get too excited. Fortunately, in this team, under our coach's guidance, we are both ambitious and humble. We want only to constantly motivate ourselves, push past our limits, see how far we can go, and maintain that momentum throughout the entire Champions League season.

Reporter: It's also your long-time dream to lead England to win a major tournament, especially with the next Euros being held at home?

Kane: Yes, that's an incredibly big dream for me. In my England career, we've come close to the highest honours several times. Of course, another World Cup exit was heartbreaking, and although there were many things to be proud of, the elimination was still bitter and difficult to digest. We still have the Nations League matches now, but everyone is undoubtedly excited about the Euros at home, which will certainly be special. We experienced a similar spectacle during Euro 2020 when, despite the pandemic, we played many matches at Wembley, and although the stadium wasn't full, the atmosphere was still incredibly passionate. So I'm really looking forward to playing in front of full crowds in England and across the United Kingdom.

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

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

Reporter: Exactly, 45 years ago.

Kane: That's a very long time indeed. Considering all the great legendary players throughout Bayern's history, it's certainly been a long period. However... let's wait and see what happens next.

Traduzido por IA.

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