For years, Harry Kane has worn the label of football’s nearly man—an elite striker with goals in abundance but no silverware to show for it. That narrative is now finally dead.
The England captain, after more than a decade of individual brilliance shadowed by team disappointment, has lifted his first major trophy—Bayern Munich’s 34th Bundesliga title.
It wasn’t the fairytale moment fans might’ve scripted. Suspended for Bayern’s penultimate game due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Kane watched from the sidelines as his team edged closer to sealing the title. The champagne stayed on ice after a late RB Leipzig equalizer that day, but when Bayer Leverkusen dropped points the following afternoon, Bayern’s coronation became official—and Kane’s wait was over.
“It would be nice to silence a few of them,” Kane had said just days before, referring to critics who focused more on his trophy-less cabinet than his record-breaking goal tally.
And silence them he did.
A Trophy Worth the Wait
At 31, Kane’s path to success hasn’t followed the usual script for a footballing superstar. He was far from a youth prodigy at Tottenham Hotspur, and instead rose through the ranks the hard way—with loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Leicester, and Norwich. Once established at Spurs, he became their all-time top scorer with 280 goals, second only to Alan Shearer in the Premier League.
But silverware always eluded him.
Champions League runners-up. League Cup runners-up—twice. A World Cup semi-final exit with England, followed by two agonizing near-misses at the European Championships.
Then came the £86.4m move to Bayern Munich in August 2023—a club synonymous with trophies. His debut ended in a thumping 3-0 loss to Leipzig in the German Super Cup, and a mid-season blip saw Bayern fall behind in the league race. When they were knocked out of the German Cup and Champions League, whispers of a “Kane curse” resurfaced.
But as the dust settles, only one truth remains: Kane delivered.
The Bundesliga’s Golden Man
Kane ends the season as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 24 goals and 36 in all competitions. He also notched 11 goals in the Champions League and reached 60 Bundesliga goals in just 60 appearances—a feat faster than even Erling Haaland.
“He fights, he works, he scores an incredible number of goals,” said Bayern legend Uli Hoeness. “No-one deserves it more than him.”
Even rivals have shown admiration for the humble striker from east London. Commentator Taufig Khalil remarked, “When the captain of the Three Lions is playing in the Bundesliga—wow, that’s big!”
Kane has embraced German life wholeheartedly—attending Oktoberfest, taking language lessons, and becoming a fan favorite not just for his performances, but his character. He’s struck up friendships across the squad, including with Thomas Müller and Eric Dier, who joined him in Munich in January.
The Road Ahead: More to Come?
With one trophy down, more could follow. Bayern are already eyeing the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer—an international prize that would further cement Kane’s transformation from nearly man to serial winner.
Speculation around Bayern’s potential pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz continues, but Kane, under contract until 2027, is expected to remain at the heart of Bayern’s plans.
“He’s extremely important to the Bayern side and he’s done a fantastic job from day one,” said former Bayern striker Jurgen Klinsmann.
The critics may have questioned his timing. Some doubted he’d ever lift silverware. But after years of chasing shadows of glory, Harry Kane is finally a champion.
And he’s just getting started.
