Kane won the men’s award at a ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, finishing ahead of France forward Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

Speaking on DAZN, Henry acknowledged that he would normally support fellow French players but said Kane’s achievements and determination deserved recognition.

“I would always back my fellow Frenchmen but I have to say something about Harry Kane,” Henry said.

“I have seen him since the beginning. He had to suffer really hard to achieve what he has achieved. A worthy winner, well done.”

Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph followed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England, including 61 goals for the German club.

The 33-year-old played a major role in Bayern’s domestic success, helping the club win the Bundesliga title and German Cup. He also finished as the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for the third consecutive season, with 36 goals.

In the Champions League, Kane scored 14 goals as Bayern reached the semi-finals. His consistent performances across club and international football strengthened his position among the leading contenders for the award.

The victory also ended England’s 25-year wait for a men’s Ballon d’Or winner. Kane became the first Englishman to claim the prize since former Liverpool striker Michael Owen won it in 2001.

He is the fifth Englishman to receive the award, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.

Kane’s achievement marks a significant milestone in a career built on consistent goalscoring and leadership. His latest honour recognises a season in which he combined individual records with major domestic trophies for Bayern.

Henry’s praise adds to the recognition Kane has received following the ceremony, with the former France international acknowledging the striker’s perseverance and the work required to reach the highest level of the game.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia