By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane was voted the 2026 player of the year in Germany by an association of sports journalists on Sunday, 23 August 2026.
Kane scored 61 goals across all competitions, including the German Supercup for Bayern last season, helping the team defend their Bundesliga title and win the German Cup. He scored a hat trick in the cup final.
Bundesliga players or German players playing abroad are eligible for the award, which is organised by Kicker magazine and voted for by 695 members of the German sports journalists association.
Kane received 272 votes, with Bayern team-mate Michael Olise – runner-up in 2025 behind Florian Wirtz – again second, this time with 203 votes.
“It’s almost impossible to find the right superlatives to describe Harry Kane – sometimes I’m at a loss for words,” Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said.
“He’s already been named England’s Footballer of the Year, and now he’s also won it in Germany.”
The England captain is among the favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in London in October. If he wins, he will become the second English player to receive the honour while representing a German club, joining Kevin Keegan who won in 1978 and ’79 while playing for Hamburg.
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany was named coach of the year, while their women’s captain Giulia Gwinn won the award for best female player.
Kane and Kompany will be honoured on Friday at Bayern’s Bundesliga opener against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern began their season with silverware on Saturday, 22 August 2026, as they beat archrivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the German Super Cup.