Harry Kane is preparing to face his former club Arsenal in a high-stakes Champions League match, aiming to further bolster his credentials ahead of this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. The England captain, who began his youth career at Arsenal before moving on to other clubs, is closing in on a key milestone that would see him match a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2017-18 Champions League season.
Kane currently boasts a run of nine consecutive Champions League matches with a goal, just two shy of Ronaldo’s record of 11. Should he find the net against Arsenal, Kane would become the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to claim the world’s top individual football honor, according to some bookmakers who list him as the 2/5 favorite. Over the 2025-26 season, Kane scored an impressive 73 goals for club and country, second only to Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in the 2011-12 campaign in terms of single-season totals this century.
Kane, who now plays for Bayern Munich, ranks eighth on the all-time Champions League goal-scoring list with 57 goals, tied with Bayern legend Thomas Muller. He is also the competition’s highest-scoring English player, the first from England to score in seven straight Champions League matches, and holds the record for the most goals by an English player in a single Champions League season, netting 14 times in 2025-26.
Despite his high profile and outstanding form, Kane was notably absent from Bayern Munich’s pre-match media activities ahead of the clash with Arsenal, a fixture that typically prompts intense media focus. However, his teammates have been vocal in their praise. Serge Gnabry highlighted Kane’s leadership and unselfish style, describing him as a player who “always goes forward” and brings the team together through his dedication and attitude.
Inside Bayern’s camp, there is broad consensus about Kane’s exceptional contributions this season. Gnabry stated, “He’s had an incredible year, so for me of course he’s done enough” to contend for football’s highest individual honors. Aaron Danks, assistant coach under Vincent Kompany, emphasized Kane’s versatility and overall quality, noting that Kane can be a top defender in training, an effective playmaker, and a prolific scorer.
Bayern could face the challenge of doing so without their head coach Kompany, who has been sidelined by a viral illness affecting his legs. Danks clarified that while Kompany is experiencing some discomfort, reports of him being confined to a couch have been exaggerated. Kompany is expected to remain involved with the team, potentially providing input remotely.
The expected lineups for the match are as follows: Bayern Munich will likely field Neuer in goal; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, and Davies in defense; Kimmich and Pavlovic in midfield; Karl, Saibari, and Diaz in more advanced roles; and Kane leading the attack. Arsenal’s probable lineup includes Raya in goal; defenders Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, and Lewis-Skelly; midfielders Rice and Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, and Madueke supporting forward Havertz. The match will be officiated by Italian referee Davide Massa.