For Kane, it was another mesmerizing performance that underlined his credentials as a 2026 Ballon d’Or favorite.
The former Tottenham Hotspur captain, 33, could become the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the prestigious individual prize, with Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal and Paris St-Germain forward and current starter Ousmane Dembélé among the favorites.
Kane was named to the shortlist of 30 finalists in September, with the winner to be announced on Monday after a vote by an international jury of 100 journalists.
“He’s the clear winner. His numbers speak for themselves. It’s been a remarkable year that he’s had,” Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice told TNT Sports.
“When you play with him you realize how good he is, and when you play against him you see how painful it is.
“He’s ridiculous, he’s such a good player, and I’m lucky to be able to play with him, not so lucky to have to play against him.”
By scoring against Arsenal on Wednesday night, Kane became the second player in Champions League history to find the net in 10 consecutive matches.
The only other player to achieve this feat is five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored in 11 consecutive matches for Real Madrid between June 2017 and April 2018.
“Kane certainly feels at home at Bayern. He understands the team and their system, and they all understand him. They know that when he puts the ball at his feet, wherever it is, something good can happen,” Onuoha added.
“I think all the Bayern players really play a part in that, but then Harry steps in and scores a penalty as well.
“Having freedom is probably the best way to describe what he has playing for Bayern, as he will work hard defensively, which gives him the freedom to be creative when he is in attack. For now, he is certainly flourishing.”
Kane’s goal against Arsenal took his tally to 156 in 158 appearances since joining Bayern Munich from Tottenham in 2023.
It was another unforgettable night for the England captain, but the best could be yet to come as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London approaches.
“It would be amazing to win,” Kane said afterwards. “The voting has been over for a long time, so there’s nothing I can do, just wait and see what happens.”
Gn sports
