Harry Kane walked out last. Bayern Munich held him back until the end of the pre-match ceremony before Saturday’s Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund, and the Allianz Arena stood for him, five days after he was crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or in London.
The club had unrolled a huge circular banner across the centre circle. It carried his number 9, the words “Ballon d’Or winner” in gold capitals and photographs from his years in Bavaria. A second banner with his face hung around the television tower in the city. Kane, 33, carried the trophy onto the pitch and fought back tears during a short speech, according to RMC Sport.
His wife, children, parents and brother were on the grass with him, alongside Bayern’s directors, among them Max Eberl and Herbert Hainer. Jürgen Klopp, a former Dortmund coach and now in charge of the German national team, watched from the stands.
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The first Bayern winner since 1981
The reception had history behind it. No Bayern player had lifted the Ballon d’Or since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. Kane took this one by a handful of votes ahead of Kylian Mbappé, on the back of 61 goals for his club last season.
He told the crowd he was extremely proud to play for Bayern and that the award belonged to them. Then he got on with the day job. Kane started the Klassiker, his first match as Ballon d’Or holder. He had been in the squad for Wednesday’s German Cup tie against Magdeburg, a 6-1 win, but stayed on the bench the whole game.
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