Bayern Munich players who have won the Ballon d'Or, and Harry Kane’s 2026 bid in London
Bayern Munich have had three players claim the Ballon d'Or while representing the club — Gerd Müller in 1970 and Franz Beckenbauer and Karl‑Heinz Rummenigge, who won the award twice each — and ahead of the 2026 ceremony in London the club's current forward Harry Kane could become the fourth Bayern player to win the prize.
The Ballon d'Or is presented annually to recognise the best performers in men's and women's football, and the 2026 edition marks the award's 70th anniversary. For the first time the ceremony will be staged in London, England, rather than Paris. Bayern Munich have a long history of domestic and European success, and players who won the Ballon d'Or while at the club form an important part of that history.
Gerd Müller was the first Bayern player to receive the Ballon d'Or, in 1970. Franz Beckenbauer and Karl‑Heinz Rummenigge each went on to win the Golden Ball twice while representing the Bavarian club, producing a total of five Ballon d'Or victories for Bayern. Karl‑Heinz Rummenigge's wins included 1981.
Harry Kane is in contention to join that list: he could become the fourth Bayern player to lift the Ballon d'Or in 2026. Kane finished the 2025-26 campaign with 73 goals for club and country. He recently broke a long-standing Bundesliga record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the German top flight, and "He needed 98 goals to reach this milestone."
Kane faces competition for the 2026 prize from other leading candidates, with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal also named as contenders. A social media post included with coverage of the ceremony read: "🚨 Bayern Munich are convinced Harry Kane will win the 2026 Ballon d'Or in London tonight. The England captain heads into the ceremony as the favourite, having scored 73 goals last season for club and country." The same post added: "Lionel Messi will NOT attend the ceremony due to a packed schedule."
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held in London, where the winner for this milestone 70th edition will be decided.