'Everything About Him Is World Class': Neville Hails Kane After Ballon d'Or Win

Gary Neville has heaped praise on Harry Kane, focusing less on the goals and more on the habits that carried the striker to the Ballon d'Or. Speaking as part of an EFL initiative, Neville described Kane's professionalism and work ethic as the reason he has reached the top of the game, adding that "everything about him is world class."

The remarks were made at an EFL event held in partnership with Sage. The campaign has been giving local businesses "early Christmas dinners" for the staff who will be working through the festive period, and Neville used his time at the event to talk about football and the people who make it happen. It was a pointed choice of subject. Neville has spent much of his career as a pundit examining what separates elite players from the rest, and his answer on Kane centred on attitude and preparation rather than raw talent.

Kane's path to this point has been a long one. He came through the Tottenham academy, spent years as the club's main goalscorer, and later moved to Bayern Munich, where he continued to produce at a high level. Neville's comments suggest that the consistency behind those numbers is what has impressed the people who work closely with him. For a player who has often been measured by goal tallies, that kind of recognition from a former England defender carries weight.

Neville's view also matters because of his standing in the English game. As a former Manchester United and England full-back who now works as a broadcaster, he has a long record of judging players on more than what shows up on the scoresheet. When someone with that background describes a player's work ethic as the foundation of his success, it adds to the picture of Kane as a model professional.