Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or victory could help persuade the Bayern Munich striker to remain with the German club, according to former World Cup winner Lothar Matthaeus.
Kane became the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the prestigious individual award on Monday. The England captain was recognised after a prolific campaign in which he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern across all competitions.
His goals helped Bayern complete a domestic league and cup double last season. Kane also scored six times as England reached the World Cup semi-finals.
Matthaeus, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1990 after captaining Germany to World Cup success, believes the award could strengthen the relationship between Kane and Bayern as discussions over a new contract continue.
“We are very happy to have Harry Kane in the Bundesliga. He is an international ambassador of football,” Matthaeus said during an online media round table.
“Maybe he was dreaming of winning the Ballon d’Or, but you have to play in a big club like Bayern. He found his peace in Munich and the right club with the right teammates.”
Kane joined Bayern in 2023 from his boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur in a €100m transfer, having sought the chance to win major silverware. Since moving to Germany, the 33-year-old has won the league twice.
He is now negotiating a possible extension with Bayern, whose current form has left them top of the Bundesliga standings.
“I think he gets a bonus [for winning the Ballon d’Or], 36 years ago I got nothing,” Matthaeus said.
“But it is about more than money. It is a good moment to sign [a new deal] for Bayern. Bayern helped him get this Ballon d’Or.
“The relationship between Harry Kane and Bayern Munich is perfect and with everything that has happened in the last three years, I think Harry will sign his contract for the next two, three years.”
Kane’s success has come after three years in Munich, during which his goalscoring record and team honours have reinforced Bayern’s appeal to the England captain, Matthaeus said.
The former Germany international added that the club had provided Kane with the platform to claim football’s top individual prize and suggested the forward’s future would be tied to Bayern for at least another two or three years.
Bayern return to action on Wednesday when they face Magdeburg in the second round of the German Cup.
