Harry Kane is among the top favorites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. A win for the Englishman would be a milestone not only for the 33-year-old personally. According to BILD soccer editor-in-chief Christian Falk, the award would send a powerful signal to FC Bayern and the Bundesliga. This could be particularly interesting with regard to Michael Olise, whom the Munich club wants to keep on a long-term basis.
Bayern Munich is determined to keep Michael Olise beyond 2029. Club officials have made it clear on multiple occasions that the French attacking star is set to be one of the key figures in the coming years.
That is precisely why the club in Munich is following developments surrounding the Ballon d’Or with great interest. If Harry Kane were to win the most prestigious individual award in world soccer as a Bayern player, it could serve as a strong argument for securing the long-term commitment of other world-class players.
BILD’s soccer editor-in-chief, Christian Falk, therefore sees a potential Kane triumph as having significance that goes far beyond the striker’s personal accolade.
A Ballon d’Or victory would demonstrate that a player at FC Bayern and in the Bundesliga can receive the highest individual recognition in world soccer. At the same time, it would serve as a rebuttal to the frequently voiced criticism that the Bundesliga lacks sufficient international appeal.
The Ballon d’Or could become a talking point regarding Olise
This is exactly where Olise comes into play. Since his move to Munich, the 24-year-old has developed into one of Europe’s best attacking players and has recently been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid.
Bayern is determined to prevent a potential departure and is working to convince Olise of the long-term value of their sporting project. A Ballon d’Or-winning Harry Kane could provide additional leverage in this effort.
The message would be clear: To win the biggest titles and individual awards, a world-class player doesn’t have to leave FC Bayern.
Real Madrid, in particular, holds enormous appeal for many stars precisely because the club regularly wins Champions League titles and its players traditionally have excellent chances of winning individual awards. If Kane were to win the Ballon d’Or as a Bayern player, Munich could at least partially refute that argument.
For Olise, this would also serve as a concrete example from within his own team. The Frenchman could see that outstanding performances with the German record champions are recognized and rewarded accordingly on the international stage.
Kane must hold his own against Messi and Mbappé
Whether it actually comes to that, however, remains to be seen. After his outstanding season, Kane certainly has the case in his favor. The striker won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Bayern and also secured the Golden Boot.
However, England’s disappointing performance at the World Cup may have diminished his chances. Falk also emphasizes that the Bayern star faces stiff competition.
Kylian Mbappé caused a sensation with ten World Cup goals, while Lionel Messi scored eight. Then there are the Spanish World Champions, led by Rodri and Lamine Yamal. Ousmane Dembélé is also likely to be in the running following his Champions League triumph with Paris Saint-Germain.
It will therefore be difficult for Kane to stand out against such high-profile competition. Nevertheless, from Bayern’s perspective, the fact that he is even among the serious candidates is significant.