Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or Ambitions: A New Chapter at Bayern Munich
In the world of football, few accolades carry as much prestige as the Ballon d’Or. It’s the ultimate recognition of individual brilliance on the global stage. And now, Harry Kane, the prolific English striker, has set his sights on this coveted prize. Since his move to Bayern Munich, Kane believes his chances of winning the next men’s Ballon d’Or have significantly improved. He attributes this newfound confidence to the “aura” he has developed as a player since joining the German giants.
At 31 years old, Kane is already England‘s all-time leading goalscorer, a testament to his remarkable goal-scoring prowess. This season, he has netted an impressive 32 goals and provided 11 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for Bayern. His contributions have been instrumental in helping Bayern Munich top the Bundesliga table and secure a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.
It’s worth noting that no English player has won the Ballon d’Or since former Liverpool striker Michael Owen in 2001. However, Kane believes that his August 2023 move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern has significantly boosted his chances of winning 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’s move to Bayern Munich has not only elevated his game but also enhanced his reputation on the global stage. “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 explained.
He further elaborated, “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 contributions are not always fully appreciated. He remains as motivated as ever, drawing parallels to the legendary goal-scoring exploits 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 said.
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 reflected on how perceptions might differ if he were younger. “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.”
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, he is determined to make his mark on the world stage and bring the prestigious award back to England.
Originally Written by: ESPN
