Harry Kane was given a break at the weekend, but it didn’t last as long as Vincent Kompany had hoped. He was busy with the game as Bayern Munich entered halftime with a three-goal lead over Mainz. Moments later, England’s captain scored the winning goal to make it 4-3.
It was his 33rd goal in the Bundesliga this season. With Kompany refraining from using a striker, there is little hope of breaking Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga single-season scoring record, but Kane will remain the top scorer for the third year in a row.
That would mean that only Lewandowski and Gerd Muller have been the top scorers in the Bundesliga more than Kane in the history of the competition. It would be absurd to think that Kane’s record could match those of these outstanding strikers, considering how much he brought to the Bayern team.
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Highlights of Harry Kane’s contribution to the turnaround between Bayern Munich and Mainz
In a recent interview with El Pais, Bayern’s de facto chief Uli Hoeness expressed this perfectly by explaining what sets Kane apart from other players. “If you look at Bayern over the years, there was always a number nine who scored goals,” Hoeness explained.
“When I look at Kane now, I see a No. 9 like I’ve never seen before. He protects, organizes, assists and scores goals. Gerd lived in the box. Harry moved the role of the No. 9 outside the box without neglecting the essence of scoring goals.”
That’s really unusual. Kane touched the ball twice as many times inside his own half as he did within 30 yards of the opposition goal. Even so, they are still nine points apart in the race for the European Golden Boot in this tournament with only a small number of matches.
His creativity is amazing. Kane ranks third in the Bundesliga for big chances created from open play and third for completed through passes. His passing range is on par with the game’s great deep playmakers and is a key aspect of Bayern’s success.
Sometimes you have to go to the stadium to understand Kane’s vision. In Cologne in January, there was a breathtaking pass from the press box when Luis Diaz found himself in space. Kane had to twist his body to hook forward, but he found a way.
At his best, he plays as if he’s seeing the same view from the stands, and Kompany understands that. There is no need to encourage him to stay in the box and wait for service. Unleashing Diaz and Mikael Oliseh is not just a icing on the cake, it’s a core part of his mission.
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Harry Kane showed a great performance in dribbling, passing and even defending against Dortmund in October.
That makes him a dual threat. Watching Kane at the Bernabéu recently, he was a bit off the radar, but he still scored the winning goal with an unerring finish. Like cricket’s great all-rounders, he is always involved in the game in one way or another.
That was a big moment. Kane needs more of them.
In last season’s Champions League, Bayern lost to Inter in the last eight. Last season, Kane’s first, he was hooked until Joselu’s sensational double lifted Real Madrid from the semi-finals at the Bernabéu. Kane has too many near misses.
Kane was England’s top scorer in 2018, but his only goal in the last two World Cups since the World Cup quarter-finals came from the penalty spot against France four years ago, a game he is better remembered for the spot-kick he fired over the bar shortly after.
At the last European Championships, he was unbalanced in the semi-finals and final due to fitness issues and was substituted midway through. I hope that in the coming weeks and months he will be in a better position to seize opportunities, whether with club or country.
If you do so, Kain’s status will change. Although the Ballon d’Or is considered a sideshow by some, it is a useful barometer of how the best players are perceived among their peers. Kane consistently makes the list. However, it will never be higher than 10th place.
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Tim Sherwood assesses Harry Kane’s ‘Ballon d’Or level’ form
As Hoeness suggests, that is not a good reflection of his abilities. But that’s the result of not being the main player when the biggest games are being played. Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the heavyweight semi-finals would certainly fit into that category.
Will Kane be able to beat Ousmane Dembele in the final round like he did with Kylian Mbappé? Could Arsenal’s dreams be shattered in next month’s Champions League final in Budapest, when Tottenham fans will be savoring it as much as Bayern supporters?
Kane’s trophy drought is now a thing of the past, with Bayern just one game away from winning the domestic double. However, it is the Champions League ahead of the World Cup that will shape their legacy. For Kane, it’s a chance for his game to be recognized globally.
