In terms of trophies, Kane may have “only” won the German double last season.
But that more than doubled his career trophy tally, having also won the Bundesliga the previous season.
But in terms of individual production, Kane – whose previous best Ballon d’Or finish was 10th – was unrivaled last season.
His 61 goals in all competitions with Bayern is 19 more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
In fact, it’s the most ever since Cristiano Ronaldo also scored 61 for Real Madrid 11 years ago.
He was the top scorer in the Bundesliga with 36 goals, 17 ahead of everyone else. In the Champions League, he scored 14 goals for the beaten semi-finalists.
In the German Cup, he scored 10 goals, including a hat-trick in the 3–0 win over Stuttgart in the final, and he also scored a goal in the German Super Cup.
No player has ever scored so many goals in a season for Bayern, a club that boasted legendary scorers like Gerd Muller, Rummenigge and more recently Robert Lewandowski in its ranks.
Kane’s 12 goals for England last season – including six in the World Cup – take him to a total of 73.
Only one player in the history of Europe’s top leagues has scored more in a season, Lionel Messi’s 82 for Barcelona and Argentina in 2011-12.
Next come Muller (72 in 1972-73), Cristiano Ronaldo (66 in 2011-12 and 2014-15), former Brazilian striker Ronaldo (66 in 1996-97), Erling Haaland (64 in 2022-23) and Luis Suarez (64 in 2015-16).
Former England striker Alan Shearer recently told BBC Sport: “The winner of the Ballon d’Or should be Harry Kane.
“His numbers over the last 12-18 months have been absolutely sensational for Bayern and for England. That’s why he should get it.”
Another former Three Lions player, Danny Murphy, added: “His goals have been relentless and brilliant. He has had one of the best seasons of his career and it will be a great reward for him if he wins the trophy.
“He’s been brilliant at Bayern Munich since he’s been there, he’s adapted really well and he’s been the best centre-forward in the world over the last 12 months.”
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