Kane's Ballon d'Or case: how a 73-goal season and no major trophy still won the award

Rare route to the top

Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win is only the fifth time in the past 20 years that the award has gone to a player who did not win the World Cup, the Champions League or a European Championship or Copa America in that season. Kane joins Messi (three times) and Ronaldo in that category. He is the first Bayern player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.

Individually, Kane's output was unmatched. His 61 goals in all competitions for Bayern were 19 more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues managed, the most anyone has recorded since Cristiano Ronaldo's 61 for Real Madrid 11 years ago. Kane's previous best Ballon d'Or finish was 10th.

Can Kane retain it?

Kane has scored 10 goals in his opening 12 games for Bayern this season, plus six goals in four Nations League games for England, according to BBC Sport's count. Bayern are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.

Lamine Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain, finished second twice in two years and has started the season in electric form with 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 games for Barcelona across La Liga and the Champions League. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, with 14 goals in 13 appearances for club and country, will also see his chances as strong. The last player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the award in consecutive years was Marco van Basten in 1988 and 1989.

Shearer and Murphy back Kane

Former England striker Alan Shearer had said before the vote: "His numbers for the last 12 to 18 months have been absolutely sensational for Bayern and for England. For that reason, he should get it." Danny Murphy added: "He's been the best centre forward in the world for the last 12 months."