Harry Kane enters the Ballon d'Or race as the clear favourite, and Bayern Munich are doing everything in their power to ensure their star striker claims football's most prestigious individual prize.

Christoph Freund, Bayern's sporting director, made his position unmistakable ahead of the club's Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory over Borussia Dortmund. "I think he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. He played an outstanding season," Freund said.

Rouven Kasper, a member of Bayern's executive board, went even further: "It can only be Harry Kane. We can just give it to Harry."

The numbers behind Kane's case

The statistical argument is overwhelming. Kane scored 73 goals in 64 games last season and delivered a hat-trick in the cup final. He also reached 100 Bundesliga goals in just 78 matches — the fastest anyone has ever hit that milestone across any of the top five European leagues. He then added six goals for England at the World Cup.

Kane finished well ahead of rivals Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the European Golden Shoe standings, and helped Bayern win the double last season. Kasper is direct about what that means: "We think there is no way around him this year. When you just focus on statistics, there cannot be anybody else."

The other leading contenders have vulnerabilities. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the standout performer in the UEFA Champions League but was absent from the World Cup. Lamine Yamal lifted the trophy but had a quiet tournament. With no dominant rival emerging, Kane's sheer volume of output could prove decisive.

What it means for Bayern beyond the trophy

The last Bayern player to win the Ballon d'Or was Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 45 years ago. Robert Lewandowski was denied the prize in 2020 when the award was cancelled due to the pandemic. The club is acutely aware of what has been missing.

For Bayern, this is about more than sentiment. Kasper explained the broader ambition: "Being a platform for a Ballon d'Or winner is something which counts more than statistics. If you have a player like this, it would be a big honour as well for the club. And for sure it would also push our activities globally. It is a strong sign for others."

While Bayern point to outperforming Real Madrid in UEFA coefficient points over the past decade, that narrative speaks to consistency rather than glamour. The club now wants to reposition itself as a destination where the world's finest players win the game's greatest individual honours.

"Maybe in the last decades we did not have that one outstanding player," Kasper concedes. "From a brand perspective, a different kind of position" is now within reach.

Kane playing his part

Kane himself is aware of what is at stake — and is playing his part. After the Dortmund match, he stayed late into the night answering questions from journalists around the world, including those from Mexico and India. The Ballon d'Or is decided by an international media vote, and Kane has never been reluctant to engage.

"I feel the love from this club," Kane said. "I know how much they appreciate me — not just my goals but my all-round game and also me as a person in the changing room. The whole package."

Kane has never ranked higher than 10th in previous Ballon d'Or votes. This year, for the first time, he stands at the very top of the ballot. And Bayern Munich are standing right behind him.