Harry Kane: "The 73 goals speak for themselves" in the Ballon d'Or race

Harry Kane received this outlet at the Allianz Arena close to midnight, just after a Bayern Munich match. The English striker looked back on a season in which he scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country, the second-highest total ever recorded, and spoke naturally about his candidacy for a Ballon d'Or that will be presented in his hometown. There was also room for the Champions League, José Mourinho's new Real Madrid and the upcoming Spain-England showdown.

• Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches during the 25-26 season, the best return of his career.
• He believes Bayern have the hunger and the right coach to win the Champions League.
• He has worked since 2020 with Madrid-born fitness coach Alejandro Elorriaga, whom he calls a key figure in his performances.
• The Ballon d'Or is being held in London for the first time, something the striker sees as a possible good omen.
• He hopes to face José Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, if the Champions League knockout rounds bring them together.

The Champions League that still eludes Kane at Bayern

Kane admits the Champions League remains the big unfinished task after winning every domestic title in Germany. Last season featured a near-perfect league phase, with seven wins and only one defeat, plus thrilling knockout ties against Atalanta, Real Madrid and PSG. The final elimination hurt, because he felt they were close enough to have reached the showpiece.

Football sometimes comes down to timing, and being at Bayern, with the great team around me, allows me to score a lot of goals and also get involved in the game, passing, defending and everything I enjoy to help the team.

This season, he says, the plan is to follow a similar path and take that final step. He believes the squad still has the same hunger and the right manager to fight for the trophy. The final being in Madrid adds extra appeal, as does the league-phase meeting with Atlético, a team he has never faced and whose stadium brings back the memory of that Champions League final he lost with Tottenham.

The Kane method: goals at 32 and the role of Alejandro Elorriaga

Far from slowing down, the London-born striker keeps improving with age. Kane credits much of that evolution to his work with Madrid-born fitness coach Alejandro Elorriaga, with whom he has collaborated since March 2020. Six and a half years of behind-the-scenes work that, according to the player himself, explain why he can perform at this level and feature in so many matches without breaking down.

The secret, he insists, is not only physical. Feeling valued and comfortable at Bayern, surrounded by a squad that allows him to score while also contributing to build-up play, gives him a confidence he had never felt before. Celebrating a goal, he says, remains an adrenaline rush he will miss once he retires.

A Ballon d'Or in London that remains out of his hands

Asked about his chances of lifting the Ballon d'Or, Kane sticks to his usual line: he prefers to let the numbers speak. And this time they do so loudly. His 73 goals in 65 matches represent the second-best single-season total in history, only behind the 82 scored by Leo Messi in 2011-12. Still, he points out that the award depends on the voters and that his focus is on the season that has just begun.

The fact that this year's ceremony takes place in London, his hometown, feels like a beautiful coincidence. He admits that plenty of people have mentioned it and that winning there would be even more special, though he prefers not to obsess over a decision that is beyond his control.

A third Golden Boot and the Messi memory

A third European Golden Boot would place Kane on a historic podium alongside Messi, who has six, and Cristiano Ronaldo, with four. No one else has won three. The Englishman sees it as a target that fits his role as a striker and, at the same time, helps the team. Every award pushes him to chase the next one.

It was precisely against Messi that he experienced one of the toughest moments of his career, the World Cup semi-final in which Argentina knocked England out. Kane remembers embracing the Argentine after the final whistle and wishing him luck for the final. He highlights Messi's humility and his ability to put the team first, traits he considers one of the keys to Argentina's success.

Mourinho at Real Madrid and the test for a winning Bayern

José Mourinho's arrival on the Madrid bench revives a bond that Kane experienced closely at Tottenham. The striker has excellent memories of the Portuguese coach, even though that spell ended with the frustration of not being able to manage the 2020-21 Carabao Cup final. Under him, Kane won the Golden Boot and was the Premier League's top assist provider in the same season.

Kane argues that Real Madrid are always among the favourites in the Champions League and that, with Mourinho in charge, they become an even tougher opponent. Bayern eliminated them in the quarter-finals last season, but the memory of how tight that tie was keeps him on alert.

Bellingham, LaLiga and Spain-England at Wembley

The connection with Jude Bellingham in the national team is another topic that produces interesting answers. Kane says they built a strong relationship on and off the pitch and that the midfielder's strong start in Madrid does not surprise him. In fact, they already discussed Mourinho during the World Cup, and the striker was convinced the pair would click.

On a possible past move to LaLiga, he acknowledges there were conversations at some point, though never a clear opportunity. He respects Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético, but insists he is happy in Germany right now. Looking ahead to the Wembley meeting with Spain, he expects a demanding test against the reigning European and world champions, but also a chance for England to start the Nations League on the right foot and win a trophy that could serve as a springboard toward Euro 2028 on home soil.

Family and stability as the final secret

Kane closes the interview by talking about his wife, whom he has known since school, and their four children. Family stability, he says, is a factor that does not get as much attention as it deserves in professional football. Feeling settled off the pitch translates into happiness on it, which is why he is grateful for the constant support of his parents, his brother and his in-laws.