Harry Kane is considered a bright candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Through the sharing of key figures at Bayern Munich and Kane himself, it can be seen that the Ballon d'Or is of special significance to both the English striker and the club.
Christoph Freund, Bayern's sporting director, did not hide his support for Kane before the German Super Cup match with Borussia Dortmund. "I think he deserves the Ballon d'Or. He had an excellent season" - Freund said.
Rouven Kasper, a member of Bayern's board of directors, even expressed a stronger view: "It can only be Harry Kane. We can only give it to Harry Kane".
Bayern is giving strong support to Kane in this year's race. In the context that the two sides are also negotiating a new contract, "The Bavarians" want to clearly show their support for the English striker.
Kane also admitted that he felt the support from Bayern. "I felt the love from this club. I know how much they cherish me. Not just goals but also the whole playing style, my personality in the dressing room and everything else" - Kane shared after the victory against Dortmund.
The 32-year-old striker has never stood higher than the 10th position in the Ballon d'Or election. However, this year may be the best opportunity for him to compete for this prestigious individual title.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is highly appreciated after his outstanding performance in the Champions League but did not participate in the 2026 World Cup. Lamine Yamal and Spain won the 2026 World Cup, but the young striker's personal performance at the tournament was not really outstanding.
In the context of a race without a completely superior candidate, statistical achievements could become Kane's great advantage. He won a double title with Bayern last season and far ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the European Golden Boot race.
The numbers further reinforce this argument. Kane scored 73 goals in 64 matches, including a hat-trick in the cup final. He also only needed 78 matches to reach the milestone of 100 goals in the Bundesliga, the fastest achievement in the history of the league. At the national team level, Kane scored 6 more goals at the 2026 World Cup.
Bayern especially wants Kane to win the Golden Ball because this is not just personal success. It has been 45 years since the last time a Bayern player received the award, when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was honored. Robert Lewandowski also missed the opportunity in 2020 when the award ceremony was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bavarians" also want to enhance their position on the European stage. They have long been highly appreciated for their collective strength and stability, and now want to become a destination for stars capable of competing for the biggest individual titles.
Kane himself understands that the Ballon d'Or race is not only decided on the pitch. The award is voted by international journalists, so the image and behavior outside the stadium also play a certain role.
Kane has a good relationship with the media and often maintains an open attitude. After the match against Dortmund, he patiently answered questions from many international reporters about the World Cup as well as the support of fans.
These factors can help Kane maintain a positive image in the eyes of the media, besides his performances on the field, which are the most important foundation of the Ballon d'Or race.
