Harry Kane could now achieve rare double honour not seen in 33 years after Ballon d'Or win

Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win could give him the opportunity to end a lengthy wait among English footballers that stretches back to 1994.

Kane won the men's Ballon d'Or award for the first time in his career on Monday night in London, fending off competition from Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

The question will now be what comes next for England's highest-ever goalscorer. A Downing Street spokesperson refused to totally rule out Kane potentially being awarded a knighthood in the New Year's honours list, though stated they would not 'pre-empt the honours process' - which isn't exactly confirmation either way. Should Kane become a knight of the realm, he would buck a slightly unusual trend among English winners of the award that will have lasted for 33 years by the time of the New Year's Honours list.

When was the last English Ballon d'Or winner knighted?

Sir Bobby Charlton, who lifted the Ballon d'Or in 1966 following England's World Cup win, had to wait almost 28 years before he was knighted in the 1994 Birthday Honours 'for services to sport, particularly association football'.

Sir Bobby Charlton was given a knighthood in 1994 (Image: Getty)

Charlton had been a CBE at the time, the third-highest class of the British honours' system. Kane would make a significantly larger jump up the ranks if he receives a knighthood, as he is currently an MBE - the fifth-highest class.

Kevin Keegan is the only two-time English winner of the Ballon d'Or, but his honour was capped at an OBE - the fourth-highest class. There were calls for Keegan to receive a posthumous knighthood after the former Newcastle and England manager passed away earlier this year.

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Sir Stanley Matthews, whose victory in the inaugural Ballon d'Or vote inspired the 70th anniversary edition being held in London this year, didn't have to wait as long as Charlton to be knighted following his victory. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1956, was made an OBE a year later and then knighted in 1967.

Michael Owen is the only English winner of the Ballon d'Or to have never received an honour. He won the prestigious award back in 2001.

Why did Kevin Keegan never receive a knighthood - and which English footballers have?

Keegan received his MBE while he was still playing, in 1982. Aged 31, he was on the way to finishing as top scorer in the First Division by netting 26 goals for Southampton during the 1981/82 season.

It was never clear as to why he was never given the highest honour possible; Keegan himself never commented specifically on it, but did say after taking the England job on a full-time basis in 1999: "I know what comes with the job. I know the upside and downside. In this country people get very emotional about football and that's what I like about it.

"It's my job not to get beheaded. I don't want a knighthood but I want to keep my head on my shoulders."

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A total of 10 other English players or managers - David Beckham, Trevor Brooking, Matt Busby, Charles Clegg, Tom Finney, Geoff Hurst, Alf Ramsey, Bobby Robson, Gareth Southgate and Walter Winterbottom - have all received knighthoods for services to football or sport.