Kane's Ballon d'Or Ends Long Droughts for England and the Bundesliga
Harry Kane has become the first English Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years and the first Bundesliga-based recipient since Matthias Sammer in 1996, prompting German figures to frame the award as a boost for Bayern Munich and the league, while Spanish commentators question the result.
Harry Kane has been named Ballon d'Or winner, making him the first English player to take the award in 25 years and the first from the Bundesliga since Matthias Sammer in 1996, when the former Germany international had captained Borussia Dortmund to successive league titles. German football figures have treated the result as a milestone for both Bayern Munich and the domestic league.
Former Germany international and 1991 Ballon d'Or winner Lothar Matthaus said Bayern and the Bundesliga benefit from Kane as much as he benefits from them, arguing the striker improved at the club and would not have won the award elsewhere. Bundesliga chief executive Marc Lenz praised Kane's professionalism and called the honour a success for Bayern and the league, while Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen described it as a strong signal for the Bundesliga.
Kane's triumph was also promoted beyond Germany. After the announcement, images from the Bundesliga were projected onto London landmarks, some bearing the words "England Hero. Bundesliga Legend". Bayern plan a special welcome for Kane before Wednesday's DFB Cup match against Magdeburg at the Allianz Arena, and will honour him at Saturday's Bundesliga top-of-the-table game against Borussia Dortmund. Club president Herbert Hainer said Kane now joins a line of Bayern greats including Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
German journalist Raphael Honigstein told BBC Radio 5 live that Kane has made a huge difference at Bayern, pointing to his goals and the international attention he brings, and saying the club has long sought that kind of validation. Bild's sport editor-in-chief Henning Feindt wrote that Kane is the biggest star the league could wish for and that the message to the world's top players is that success is possible in the Bundesliga.
In Spain, the award has prompted debate about how much weight international success should carry in the voting. Some Spanish journalists and commentators argued that Lamine Yamal and other Spain internationals had strong claims, drawing comparisons with 2010, when Lionel Messi won ahead of Andres Iniesta and Xavi. AS editor-in-chief Jose Felix Diaz, Spain's sole voter, said he had expected Yamal or Kylian Mbappe to win, and former Real Madrid midfielder Guti also questioned the outcome. The majority of the Spanish press nonetheless acknowledged Kane as a deserving winner, according to BBC Sport's Spanish football reporter Elizabeth Conway.
Image: AFP via Getty Images / BBC Sport
