‘Like Gerd Müller in his prime’ – Bayern bosses stake Harry Kane’s claim to Ballon d’Or

‘Like Gerd Müller in his prime’ – Bayern bosses stake Harry Kane’s claim to Ballon d’Or

Bayern Munich’s bosses will fight to help Harry Kane win the Ballon d’Or this year.

The England international is in the running for France Football’s prestigious award alongside the likes of Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Kylian Mbappe, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a host of additional elite names in the sport.

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on October 26 in London.

Harry Kane is the gold standard for the Bayern bosses

There is no denying that the powers that be at Säbener Straße are more than biased when it comes to Kane.

However, it can be equally and objectively claimed that the 33-year-old striker has delivered an individual campaign fit for the history books.

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61 goals and seven assists compiled over the course of 51 games (across all competitions) is certainly nothing to sniff at. And, indeed, it’s a tally that saw the England international not only claim the Golden Shoe (as Europe’s top scorer) but also overtake Robert Lewandowski’s haul of 55 goals with FC Bayern back in 2019/20.

Is it any surprise that Max Eberl and Co. feel that Harry Kane is the gold standard when it comes to strikers?

“Harry Kane scores like a number nine, thinks like a number ten, and works like a number six,” Eberl told Sport Bild.

“Much like Gerd Müller in his prime, he seems to have a fraction of a second more time in every situation.

“He is a phenomenon, a leader, a strong personality, and he has been proving for years just how exceptional he is. He more than deserves the Ballon d’Or. Anyone who loves football loves characters like Harry Kane.”

Herbert Hainer and Jan-Christian Dreesen echo Eberl’s thoughts

Herbert Hainer was equally complimentary of Kane’s contributions at Bayern: “When young strikers are described in a few years, they will be compared to Harry Kane. He represents the next stage of an entire generation of strikers, and as a person, he also demonstrates that professionalism and humility are not mutually exclusive.

“Harry Kane embodies the idea that sporting greatness is incomplete without greatness of character. He would be a worthy World Player of the Year.”

Jan-Christian Dreesen concurred: “One thing is clear: anyone talking about this year’s biggest individual awards can’t ignore Harry Kane. Harry is a global star without any airs and one of the best strikers of the 21st century. He is a role model and a prototype of the modern sportsman.

“Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge won the Ballon d’Or with their very own unique style of shaping football. For me, Harry Kane belongs right there in that same category.”

How does Kane feel about his own chances?

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the former Tottenham hitman was somewhat coy about his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.

“The Ballon d’Or is not in my hands. I’ve done what I can do in terms of putting in performances. It’s now down to the votes, other people, and the media. Stuff I can’t control,” the No.9 said.

“We’ll see what happens. It would be amazing if it were to happen but ultimately it’s still two or three months away before that’s decided, so it’s not something that’s at the front of my mind right now.”

The competition will, perhaps, not be quite as clear-cut as decision-makers at Bayern might have hoped, given the Bavarian giants fell short of reaching the Champions League final. Not to mention, England likewise dropped out at the semi-final stage thanks to their late collapse in the second half against Argentina.

These results will no doubt bring other players into the conversation, but there’s no question that Kane’s achievements, silverware or no, make him a deserving contender.

Now, as the Englishman pointed out, it’s up to the voters.