Kane's all-round display against Arsenal reinforces Ballon d'Or case
Harry Kane scored and assisted as Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Arsenal, with Declan Rice calling him the clear Ballon d'Or winner.
Harry Kane produced another standout performance in Bayern Munich's 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal, a night that began with an unusual moment: the striker taking a goal-kick and launching an 80-yard pass upfield. Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport that Vincent Kompany has given Kane a level of trust he likely has not had under any other manager, noting that even Manuel Neuer accepted Kane's decision to take the kick. Onuoha added that Kane's roaming is valuable to Bayern even if a number nine is not ideally that deep.
Kane's decisive contributions followed. After Eberechi Eze put Arsenal ahead, Kane curved a pass around Jurrien Timber for Alphonso Davies to equalise, then converted a penalty to put Bayern in front. Declan Rice levelled late for Arsenal. The goal took Kane's career tally against Arsenal to 16 and made him only the second player in Champions League history to score in 10 consecutive matches, after Cristiano Ronaldo, who did so in 11 straight games for Real Madrid.
Rice, Kane's England team-mate, told TNT Sports that Kane is the clear Ballon d'Or winner, saying his numbers speak for themselves and describing him as a difficult opponent. Kane is on the 30-man shortlist, with the winner to be announced on Monday after a vote by 100 international journalists; he could become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
Onuoha said Kane looks at home at Bayern and that the team understands him, adding that the freedom he has there lets him work defensively while remaining creative in attack. Kane, who has scored 156 goals in 158 appearances since joining from Tottenham in 2023, said winning the award would be amazing but that voting had closed long ago and he could only wait.
