Harry Kane nominated for Ballon d'Or after scoring first

Harry Kane is among the top contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or, capping a remarkable individual season where he scored 73 goals for club and country. The England captain's nomination comes as he finally opened his Bundesliga account for the new campaign, scoring the winner for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 victory at promoted Elversberg on Sunday, 13 September 2026.

Ballon d'Or nomination caps historic season

Kane's place on the 30-man shortlist 15 September, recognises one of the finest years of his career. He led Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title and helped England to a third-place finish at the World Cup. His total of 73 goals across all competitions is a staggering figure that puts him in the conversation for football's top individual prize. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October. Last year's winner, Ousmane Dembélé, and France teammate Kylian Mbappé are also considered leading candidates.

Kane ends wait with key winner for Bayern

After drawing blanks in his first two league games, Kane broke his duck for the season with 18 minutes remaining against Elversberg. Wearing the captain's armband, he secured a hard-fought 2-1 away win for the champions. Bayern had taken an early lead through teenager Lennart Karl, but a stunning equaliser from Maurice Krattenmacher levelled the match. Kane's decisive strike ensured his side left with all three points from a tricky fixture. "That's football, sometimes you have to wait more than you'd have expected," Kane told broadcaster Dazn after the match. "It was nice to get the goal and the three points." The victory kept Bayern near the top of the early [standings](/standings).

Barcelona linked with shock move for veteran striker

Despite his importance to Bayern, speculation about Kane's future has emerged. Barcelona are reportedly monitoring the 33-year-old striker as a potential alternative to other forward targets. The Catalan club is said to be looking at both Kane and Manchester City's Erling Haaland. In a related development, Bayern themselves have been linked with a move for 24-year-old German forward Nick Woltemade, currently on loan at Juventus from Newcastle United, who is viewed as a potential long-term successor. These rumours highlight the ongoing planning at Europe's top clubs, even for a player who remains a central figure for his current team.

Kane's season in numbers

The statistics from Kane's previous campaign underline why he is in the Ballon d'Or conversation. The table below shows key figures from his record-breaking year.

• Ballon d'Or Contender: Harry Kane is nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or following a 73-goal season for Bayern Munich and England.
• Season's First Goal: He scored his first Bundesliga goal of the 2026/27 campaign on 13 September, securing a 2-1 win for Bayern at Elversberg.
• Transfer Speculation: Barcelona are reportedly monitoring Kane's situation, while Bayern are linked with Nick Woltemade as a potential future replacement.
• Captain's Role: Kane led Bayern as captain in the win over Elversberg, with Manuel Neuer rested for the fixture.