Harry Kane Eyes Ballon d’Or Glory with Bayern Munich Boost
In the world of football, few accolades carry the prestige and allure of the Ballon d’Or. It’s the ultimate individual honor, a testament to a player’s excellence on the global stage. And now, Harry Kane, the prolific English striker, has set his sights on this coveted prize. In a recent interview, Kane expressed his belief that he has a “real chance” of winning the next men’s Ballon d’Or, attributing his enhanced “aura” as a player to his move to Bayern Munich.
At 31 years old, Kane is not just any striker; he is England‘s all-time leading goalscorer. This season, he has been in scintillating form, netting 32 goals and providing 11 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Bayern. His contributions have been instrumental in helping the German giants top the Bundesliga table and secure a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.
It’s been a long time since an English player last won the Ballon d’Or. The last to do so was former Liverpool striker Michael Owen in 2001. However, Kane believes that his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern in August 2023 has significantly boosted his chances of claiming men’s football’s top individual award.
“Just being at a club like Bayern Munich has helped push me on even more, confidence-wise and responsibility-wise,” Kane told reporters ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Albania.
Kane elaborated on how his move to Bayern has elevated his game and reputation. “I feel like I’ve definitely got better, I’ve improved, and maybe the ‘aura’ of me as a player is a bit more respected than what it has been in the past, because you’re playing in big games, big nights,” he said. “That’s probably what I mean in terms of being respected more worldwide, on the bigger stage. For something like that, you have to win enough team trophies to be considered in that and probably score 40-odd goals, but that is a possibility this season.”
Despite his impressive goal-scoring feats, Kane feels that his achievements are not always fully appreciated. He remains as motivated as ever, drawing parallels with the legendary duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. “It’s like when [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi were throwing these crazy numbers out there and the next season they’d score 40 goals instead of 50. It was like they were having a bad season,” Kane remarked.
He continued, “People take it for granted and maybe a little bit with England as well. I’ve scored 69 goals and when you score against Albania or Latvia, or these teams, people just expect it so it’s not spoken about so much.”
Kane also touched on the perception of his career at this stage. “If I was 25 now and doing what I’m doing, the excitement around me would maybe be a little bit different to what it is now. That’s part of where we are with football … Maybe people just get a little bit bored of what you do, but I’m certainly not bored. I’m excited for these games and the games ahead.”
- Harry Kane has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists in 37 appearances for Bayern Munich this season.
- He is England’s all-time leading goalscorer with 69 goals.
- No English player has won the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
As Kane continues to shine on the pitch, his aspirations for the Ballon d’Or remain firmly in focus. With Bayern Munich’s success and his own remarkable performances, the possibility of him lifting the prestigious trophy is very much alive. Football fans around the world will be watching closely as Kane aims to etch his name in history alongside the game’s greatest.
Originally Written by: ESPN
