Shkëndija congratulates Harry Kane after Ballon d'Or win
The Tetovo club recalled the 24 September 2020 meeting with Tottenham at the Skopje Arena and sent its congratulations.
Shkëndija from Tetovo publicly congratulated Harry Kane after the English striker was awarded the Ballon d'Or in late October 2026.
In its message, the Tetovo club recalled the high-profile meeting between Shkëndija and Tottenham Hotspur at the Skopje Arena on 24 September 2020, a single-leg Europa League third qualifying round tie played during the COVID-19 affected season.
From a 2020 spectacle to a 2026 Ballon d'Or
That evening Tottenham arrived with captain Harry Kane and manager José Mourinho. Valmir Nafiu brought Shkëndija level at 1:1 at one point, and the match looked to be heading towards one of the competition's upsets, but Tottenham ultimately won 3:1. Kane scored one of the London side's goals.
The club also pointed out Kane's subsequent career move — his transfer to Bayern Munich — and that six years after the Skopje meeting he went on to win football’s most prestigious individual prize.
Shkëndija's short congratulations read: "We are proud that our paths crossed with the Ballon d'Or winner. Congratulations — Harry Kane."
The article remembered several players from Mourinho's Tottenham squad that night — Joe Hart, Ben Davies, Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, Giovani Lo Celso and Lucas Moura — and noted members of Shkëndija who were part of the team then and remain at the club: Ardian Ismajli? (note: original names kept as in club records), Murati, Zejnullai, F. Ramadani, with Ernest Gjoka as coach at the time.
Photo: press material from the event
