Virat Kohli congratulated Harry Kane on winning the Ballon d’Or 2026, praising his resilience, hard work and honesty throughout his football career.

Kane thanked Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, his teammates and fans for supporting him on his journey to football’s biggest individual honour.

Virat Kohli congratulated Harry Kane after the Bayern Munich forward won the Ballon d’Or 2026, becoming the first English player in 25 years to receive the prestigious individual award. The Indian cricket star took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message for Kane, praising the striker’s journey and the dedication that helped him reach the top of world football.

Although the two sporting icons have rarely been seen together, they share a well-known friendship. Kohli described Kane as a deserving winner amid debate over the Englishman’s triumph ahead of other nominees, including Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

Virat Kohli congratulates Harry Kane on Ballon d’Or win

Kohli shared a personal message for Kane on Instagram, highlighting the resilience and hard work the striker has shown throughout his career. The former India captain also wished Kane and his family well, expressing happiness at seeing his friend receive the prestigious honour.

“Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you would be of your own journey. My best wishes always. Congratulations.”

Kohli’s message celebrated not just Kane’s achievement but also the journey behind it, as the England captain overcame early setbacks to establish himself among the leading forwards in world football.

Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you…

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 27, 2026

Kohli resumes training ahead of New Zealand ODI series

Kohli has returned to batting practice in Mumbai as he prepares for India’s upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on November 4 in Auckland. The former India captain recently enjoyed a productive series against the West Indies, crossing 15,000 ODI runs and registering his 55th century in the format.

Kohli reportedly underwent an intensive two-hour training session at the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium, focusing on his preparations for the seam-friendly conditions expected in New Zealand. He also needs 226 more runs to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI runs by an Indian batter in New Zealand.

The upcoming series will be another important assignment for Kohli as India build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Away from training, the batting star also made headlines for gifting an autographed India jersey to a local net bowler, adding a thoughtful gesture to his preparations.