Less than 25 minutes into Bayern Munich’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal, Harry Kane took a goal-kick. It was an unexpected sight, even for Bayern’s own goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, who allowed the England captain to take the kick without question. Kane’s raking 80-yard pass launched a Bayern attack that nearly broke the deadlock.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, speaking to BBC Sport, noted how Kane’s role under Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has changed. “He has been given a level of trust that he has probably never had before under any other manager,” Onuoha said. “Nobody has seen him take a goal-kick before. But even someone like Manuel Neuer, who is his senior and has been at Bayern for a large part of his career, sees Harry Kane put the ball down and thinks, ‘OK, sure’. He lets Harry go for it because he thinks whatever he sees is going to be correct.”
Kane’s freedom to roam deep and influence play was clear throughout the match. He combined creativity with defensive work, a balance that Onuoha described as “having freedom” and which is helping Kane thrive at Bayern.
The forward’s influence soon translated into direct contributions. After Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze put the visitors ahead, Kane set up Alphonso Davies with a delicate pass around Jurrien Timber to restore parity. Later, Kane converted a penalty to put Bayern in front, increasing his goal tally against Arsenal to 16.
Declan Rice’s late strike for Arsenal earned a draw, but Kane’s performance was impossible to overlook. By scoring in this match, Kane became only the second player in Champions League history to score in 10 consecutive games. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record with 11 consecutive matches for Real Madrid between June 2017 and April 2018.
Kane’s goal tally at Bayern now stands at 156 in 158 appearances since his 2023 transfer from Tottenham Hotspur. His consistent output has made him the frontrunner for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the award’s winner set to be announced on Monday following a vote by 100 international journalists.
Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice praised Kane’s quality. “He is the clear winner. His numbers speak for themselves. The year he has had has been remarkable,” Rice told TNT Sports. “When you play with him, you realise how good he is, and when you play against him, you see how much of a pain it is. He is ridiculous, such a good player, and I am lucky I can play with him, not so lucky I have to play against him.”
Onuoha pointed to Kane’s understanding with his new team as a major factor in his success. “Kane certainly looks at home at Bayern. He understands the team and its system, and they all understand him. They know that when he gets the ball at his feet, wherever that may be, something good can happen,” he said. “All the Bayern players are really playing into that, but then Harry steps up and scores a penalty as well.”
Kane’s role at Bayern under Kompany allows him to roam the field, combining defensive duties with creative freedom. This approach contrasts with the typical number nine role and has helped Kane put in another performance that adds weight to his Ballon d’Or candidacy.
After the match, Kane acknowledged the anticipation around the award. “It would be amazing to win,” he said. “The voting closed a long time ago so there’s nothing I can do, just wait and see what happens.”
According to BBC Sports.
