Kane smashes records, fueling Ballon d’Or hopes after historic Bayern start

Earlier this year, Harry Kane finally ended his career-long trophy drought when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga. Now, following an electrifying start to the season, the England striker has set his sights on the ultimate individual prize: the Ballon d'Or.

Despite finishing only 13th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, Kane's form since that September ceremony has been nothing short of astonishing. His goal in Bayern's recent 4-0 Champions League win against Club Brugge brought his total for the season to 20 goals in just 12 club games across all competitions.

"I would love to win it for sure," Kane said recently. "It would be an accumulation of doing something great individually and as a team. It would be almost the perfect season." If Kane can maintain this scoring run and lead his teams to success in the Champions League and the World Cup next summer, he will be a definitive frontrunner for the 2026 award.

The numbers speak for themselves

Kane’s statistical dominance during his third season with Bayern suggests this is his best chance yet at the prestigious award, which hasn't been won by an English player since Michael Owen in 2001.

• He has scored 105 goals in 108 matches for the club, becoming the fastest player this century to reach the 100-goal mark in Europe's top five leagues (in just 104 games).
• His average scoring rate this season is a goal every 54 minutes.
• With 12 goals in seven Bundesliga matches, Kane is on pace to score 58 goals, making Robert Lewandowski's single-season record of 41 a serious target.
• In the Champions League, Kane has scored more goals (24) and been involved in more goals (24 goals, 6 assists) than any other player since his Bayern debut in September 2023.

More than just a goalscorer

The case for Kane goes beyond his incredible scoring numbers. Analysts and teammates agree that his true value lies in his unique, deep-lying center-forward role. 1990 Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthaus argues that Kane has "reinvented the centre-forward game."

"I don't see a better striker in the world right now. Not just because of his goals, but because of his versatility and the positions he plays," Matthaus wrote, highlighting Kane's skills as a passer, dribbler, and tackler.

Bayern teammate Kingsley Coman echoed this sentiment, noting that Kane makes the whole team better: "I feel like he enjoys finding a really nice pass as much as scoring. What is amazing is that he can do both."

MORE FROM FANATİK

Ajax in disarray ahead of the Galatasaray match: Red card, injury...

Following an injury to Jamal Musiala, manager Vincent Kompany gave Kane near-total attacking freedom, a tactical shift that has paid huge dividends. As analyst Raphael Honigstein put it, "He is playing like three or four different players on the pitch at the same time, and that makes him so invaluable."

The competition: Haaland and Mbappé

To win the Ballon d'Or, Kane must fend off football's new generation of talent, namely Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

• Haaland has scored 24 goals in 14 games this season for Manchester City and Norway.
• Mbappé has netted 18 goals in 14 outings for Real Madrid and France.
• Including his recent England goals, Kane has 23 goals in 15 matches.

While both rivals boast remarkable numbers, Matthaus suggests neither possesses Kane's all-around impact. He noted that he has "never seen Haaland and Mbappé slide in their own penalty area like Kane did... I also don't see Haaland and Mbappé make passes of 50 metres or more."

Ultimately, the award often goes to the best individual on a team that wins a major trophy. With Bayern's perfect start in the Champions League and England's successful qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Kane has the perfect platform to achieve that career-defining "perfect season."