Rio Engumoha praises Harry Kane as an inspiration and expresses confidence in Kane's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future.
On 11 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Rio Engumoha, Liverpool's young winger, acknowledged that Harry Kane's 2026 Ballon d'Or win is a major inspiration for new football talents. He also believes he has the potential to earn that prestigious award himself someday.
At 18 years old, Engumoha has become one of the most watched young talents since breaking through with Liverpool last season. He earned a spot in the England squad preparing for the World Cup and is currently selected for the UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
He spoke about Kane's achievement of winning the Ballon d'Or on 26 October, beating Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, saying, "Harry Kane winning the Ballon d'Or is a huge deal because he is recognized as the best footballer in the world."
"It also benefits English football because everyone has now seen that an English player can win the Ballon d'Or. This success will motivate young players to strive to become the best in the world."
"For me, I also want to achieve that level of success, and I believe I can."
Engumoha also revealed his impressions after training with Kane in the England national team camp, admitting he was initially shy and hesitant to socialize with teammates. However, seeing the training of the Bayern Munich striker made him understand why Kane is hailed as a world-class forward.
"When I first arrived, I was quite shy and didn't talk much with anyone, but then everyone helped bring me into the team."
"Watching him train, especially his finishing drills, you can see why he won the Ballon d'Or and is recognized as the best forward and best player in the world."
"He is an inspiration to me, to every young player, and probably to all England national team players. He is an incredible person."
Meanwhile, the Liverpool youngster reflected on his childhood in Manor Park, East London, a challenging environment. He admitted that family and friends played a major role in keeping him away from trouble.
Engumoha views football as a path that kept him distant from crime and social problems, giving credit to his family for their support and encouragement to focus on football.
Harry Kane is also preparing to make history again in the upcoming match against Croatia, set to earn his 126th cap for England. This will surpass Peter Shilton’s previous record of 125 appearances, making Kane England’s most capped player ever.