In football, there is no greater individual prize than the Ballon d'Or. The award is given out every year to recognise the very best player on the planet.

To even be in the conversation, a footballer needs to have had an incredibly impressive past 12 months. It's funny to think, then, that one of the favourites in the 2026 Ballon d'Or hasn't always looked destined for greatness.

In fact, for a long time it didn't look as though they'd make it at the elite level. Especially as a youngster, there were major doubts over their talents, with Arsenal famously rejecting them. Many years on, though, and they may well be the best footballer in the world.

Ballon d'Or Hopeful Discusses Chances in 2026

The player in question is Harry Kane. Now at Bayern Munich, the Englishman is in the form of his life. In 2025/26, he scored 61 goals in 51 games for the German giants, while also claiming seven assists as the club won both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.

He then scored six times for England at the World Cup, extending his record as the Three Lions' all-time top-scorer. Amid that scintillating form, there are many who feel as though Kane should lift the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The 33-year-old has spoken about his chances to the press ahead of the ceremony, noting:

“I think my wife would prefer to know and my family … it’s very stressful for everyone. I can see why they don’t tell people. They want everyone to go, all the big names, and there will be more people watching it if they don’t know so I can understand why.

“From my point of view, I’d love to know to just kind of see and not have to wait throughout the whole night. But it is their decision, I can’t control that. We’ll have to just enjoy it and try not to stress out too much.

“I try not to think about it. ­Obviously it is hard not to. There are always rumours and stuff flying around so you try to stay away from it.”

Harry Kane Was 'a Bit Chubby' When at Arsenal

There's no shock these days to see Kane's name among the Ballon d'Or favourites, but few of his coaches would have predicted that when he was starting out as a youngster. When he was just eight years old, the striker was signed by Arsenal from local club Ridgeway Rovers.

Kane, though, lasted just 12 months with the Gunners. Former academy director for the Gunners Liam Brady explained that the North London club were not convinced that he had the right physical profile to make it as an elite footballer. He recalled:

It's true that even Tottenham took convincing before they were ready to give him a shot at senior football. Spurs loaned him out to the likes of Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich, and Leicester City, but he failed to really deliver anything that special during that time.

Even so, Kane would eventually get a shot as Spurs, really breaking through in 2014/15 and then winning PFA Young Player of the Year. From there, he never looked back, as he went on to score a club-record 280 for Tottenham before moving to Bayern in 2023.

Kane's Since Scored 16 Goals in 23 Games vs the Gunners

Some of Kane's best career performances have come against Arsenal, and the player has even admitted that the rejection definitely helped light a fire within. He told The Players' Tribune:

Even since leaving Tottenham, Kane has still managed to get some joy out of facing Arsenal. In four Champions League meetings with the Gunners since his move to Germany in 2023, he's scored on two occasions, while also getting one assist.

After bagging against the Gunners in October 2026, he could help but joke at the club's expense: "I always seem to get a penalty against Arsenal." Kane has scored nine spot-kicks against his old North London rivals in 23 games, never missing once.

Talk about a player coming back to haunt you.