Kane's hat-trick seals Bayern's German Cup triumph as Ballon d'Or calls grow

Harry Kane's remarkable season reached another peak on Saturday as the England captain scored a hat-trick to lead Bayern Munich to a 3-0 victory over Stuttgart in the 2026 German Cup final.

Harry Kane (R) of Bayern Munich vies with Jose Maria Andres Baixauli (L) of VfB Stuttgart during the German Cup football final match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Berlin, Germany, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

The goals were Kane's 59th, 60th and 61st across all competitions this season, further fueling talk that the Bayern striker could become the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Ballon d'Or.

"From my point of view, he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said after the final in Berlin.

"He has made headlines for a decade in the Premier League, sadly enough without titles. He is now harvesting them with us."

Kane's hat-trick secured Bayern's first German Cup title since 2020 and completed a domestic double after the Bavarians sealed the Bundesliga crown earlier this month.

The 32-year-old has now finished as the Bundesliga's top scorer for a third straight season and has added the German Super Cup and two league titles to the first major trophies of his career since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.

Bayern supervisory board member Uli Hoeness described Kane as one of the club's best-ever signings and confirmed the German champions are eager to extend his contract beyond 2027.

Meanwhile, Kane hinted that talks over a new deal are progressing smoothly.

"Both sides seem happy," he said after the match.

Kane spent much of the evening fulfilling media duties before eventually joining Bayern's celebrations at Berlin's Olympiastadion, where teammates sang and danced long after the final whistle.

The striker described the campaign as the best season of his career and called the cup final victory one of the most satisfying nights he has experienced in football.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany admitted he was running out of ways to praise his leading scorer.

"I can't think of any more superlatives because he made us use them all already," Kompany said.

"After games, we ask about his goals, but he, as a true leader, is about personality."

Kompany praised Kane's all-round contribution, saying the forward's influence extends far beyond scoring goals.

"He is around all the time, on the entire pitch, in training, and when dealing with the media," Kompany said.

Kane also became only the third player to score in every round of the German Cup, including the final.

Looking ahead to this summer's 2026 FIFA World Cup, Kompany said England can expect a fully fit and highly motivated captain.

Despite his individual achievements, Kane focused on Bayern's collective effort after the match.

"I feel I am part of the club's history," he said.

Rather than dwelling on his 10 goals in this season's cup competition, Kane praised his teammates for their patience and determination.

"We needed a lot of patience today," he said.