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Is Harry Kane on the cusp of a Ballon d'Or-winning year?
Harry Kane is set to return to action in the Champions League tonight as he stands on the verge of his greatest-ever season.
In a career that already includes three Premier League Golden Boots, two Bundesliga top scorer gongs and a German championship, there's already a high bar for the 32-year-old to surpass.
Yet, 2026 is set to usurp all that and rightfully propel the England star into football's ultimate elite.
Both individually and collectively with his teammates for club and country, 2026 has the makings of a year that could see Kane as the first Englishman to take home a Ballon d'Or for 25 years.
A numbers game
Modern football is obsessed with numbers. The Lionel Messis and Cristiano Ronaldos of this world have changed how we view achievement, racking up numbers so ridiculous they never felt possible, and almost becoming the benchmark will now judge superstars.
For long periods, it looked as though the aformentioned duo would be the exception to the rule, but Kane is proving he's now more than worthy of being spoken about in the same tier, with tallies that match the very best.
This season alone, Kane has scored 45 times in 38 games across all competitions. 30 of which have come in the league, making him the top scorer in Europe above Kylian Mbappe and on course for his best-ever season in front of goal.
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That total includes breaking through the 500 barrier for career goals, becoming the highest-scoring Englishman in history and doing it ten games quicker than Ronaldo.
Want more numbers? In December, he reached his 100th Bundesliga goal contribution, comprising 81 goals and 19 assists and did it in 78 matches, beating Roy Makaay's record of 113.
Another record was set last month, when Kane scored a brace in four consecutive matches, the first time a player has done that in the Bundesliga and the England skipper is hungry for more.
He is just eleven shy of Robert Lewandowski's all-time single-season total and at the rate Harry's been banging them in this season, it's a milestone well within his reach.
It all means over the three seasons Kane has been in Germany, he has now scored 130 goals in 133 games, a stat that defies belief and, yet, his all-round game has improved too, laying on five assists for his teammates this season alone.
Goals means prizes
What these goals do bring is silverware. Something that for so long was used as a stick to beat Kane's reputation with, he finally bagged a first major title in 2025 as Bayern won the Bundesliga - but 2026 promises so much more.
Having already bagged the Supercup at the start of the campaign, Bayern and Kane are on course to retain their championship crown, having failed to lose a single league game so far this season.
Fuelled by his goals, the German giants will retain their title and then set their sights on something bigger, the Champions League.
First up, it's Atalanta as Kane is set to be unleashed on a tie that sees the Germans already 6-1 up from the first leg and ready to finish the job back at home.
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Beyond that? Well, who knows? There's no doubt the Germans will be one of the favourites and could see the England skipper add a Champions League medal to his new collection.
Then there's the summer. Having lifted trophies domestically, can the Three Lions talisman lead the country to a first World Cup win since 1966?
England will head there with a captain and a star player in better form than we have previously ever seen at any major tournament, and if he can carry on at the same rate as he has been this season - which also includes 9 in his last 9 for Kane internationally - then the ultimate triumph is very much on the cards.
Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
The golden ticket
If Kane does carry on this form and breaks even more goalscoring records, and IF he can deliver a Champions League and a World Cup to remember, surely then it puts him in pole position for the game's most prestigious individual prize, the Ballon d'Or.
Michael Owen was the last Englishman to receive the honour in 2001, but Kane now looks like the closest successor since. Much will depend on the summer, as it often has a bearing on votes, but domestically, there's no argument that the England skipper is head and shoulders above the rest.
Mbappe is scoring goals, but in an unconvincing Madrid team and now has an injury that could curtail the run-in. Lamine Yamal would be another contender, but maybe his time is still to come, so who else?
It almost feels like Kane is bearing down on a year of greatness, in the same way he bears down on goal with the ball at his feet. And, especially this season, we know that it always ends in glory.
How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
