By Martin Graham
At the beginning of this year, Harry Kane finally lifted his first major trophy as Bayern Munich they were crowned Bundesliga champions, ending a 15-season wait for the club’s success.
That long-awaited triumph has opened up new horizons for him England striker, who now looks at more prestigious achievements, both collective and individual.
Despite his excellent form, Kane only finished 13th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or in September, having never finished in the top ten in his career. However, since Ousmane Dembélé claimed the prize in Paris, the 32-year-old has reached an even higher level of performance.
His latest brace in Bayern’s 4-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge took him to 20 goals in just 12 games this season. Kane knows that keeping up that pace, guiding Bayern to European glory and helping England lift the World Cup next summer could put him among the favorites for football’s highest individual honour.
The numbers tell the story
Kane’s stats underline his best chance to win the Ballon d’Or. In September, he became the fastest player this century to score 100 goals for a club in one of Europe’s top leagues, reaching the milestone in just 104 games. His tally now stands at 105 goals in 108 appearances.
No player in Europe’s top five leagues has equaled this goalscoring record since the start of the 2023-24 campaign. neither Lionel Messi neither Cristiano Ronaldo he reached 20 goals in a season so quickly – Kane achieved it in fewer games, averaging a goal every 54 minutes.
With 12 goals in seven Bundesliga games, he is on course for an astonishing 58-goal season, within reach of by Robert Lewandowski all-time league record of 41.
His form in Europe is equally remarkable. Since making his Champions League debut for Bayern in September 2023, Kane has been involved in 30 goals (24 goals and six assists) more than any other player in that period. Only Ruud van Nistelrooy scored more in his first 60 Champions League appearances.
Redefining the role of the forward
Kane’s impact, however, goes beyond finishing. His movement, creativity and defensive work have made him a complete modern striker.
“Harry has transformed the way a centre-forward plays, in the same way that Manuel Neuer changed the role of a goalkeeper,” wrote 1990 Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthäus in his Sky Germany column. “He’s not just a goalscorer, but a passer, dribbler and tackler, the most complete forward in the world right now.”
Colleagues have echoed this sentiment. Former Bayern winger Kingsley Coman described Kane as “a striker who improves everyone around him” and praised his selfless style: “He likes to create chances as much as score. He’s easy to play with, not selfish, but he still scores over 40 goals a season.”
following by Jamal Musiala Long-term injury, manager Vincent Kompany gave Kane extra creative licence, allowing him to operate freely in attacking areas. Journalist Raphael Honigstein remarked that the Englishman “plays like three or four players at the same time”, while Mina Rzouki praised his “exceptional football intelligence and selflessness”.
Rivals to the beat
Kane’s challenge for the Ballon d’Or faces stiff competition Erling Haaland i Kylian Mbappé. Haaland has already scored 24 goals in 14 games for Manchester City and Norway, while Mbappé has scored 18 in 14 games for Real Madrid and France.
Including his goals for England, Kane’s tally is 23 in 15 games. Both Haaland and Mbappé have enjoyed remarkable streaks (12 and 11 consecutive scoring games, respectively), but Matthäus believes Kane’s integral contribution sets him apart.
“I’ve never seen Haaland or Mbappe make a slide tackle in their own penalty area like Kane did against Dortmund,” he said. “Nor have I seen them make a 50-metre pass or play the delicate shots that Kane can.”
Even so, history shows that the Ballon d’Or often goes to players whose teams triumph in the Champions League, the European Cup or the World Cup. Kane recognizes this as well. “He tends to be the best player on the winning side,” he admitted. “But if I keep performing and we have success with Bayern and England, then I will have a real chance.”
With Bayern perfect in his Champions League group and England heading into the 2026 World Cup, Kane may be entering the defining chapter of his illustrious career, one that could finally earn him football’s most coveted individual award.
