Kane: The English “9” who Revolutionizes Bayern and Aims for the 2026 World Cup

The Evolution of Harry Kane: From Goalscorer to Conductor at Bayern Munich

The 2020 documentary “All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur” offered a revealing look into Harry Kane’s mindset. In a conversation with then-manager José Mourinho, Kane expressed his ambition: “When you’re at a club like Tottenham, we’ve done well and I’ve done well, but I want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.” Despite the constant changes after Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Tottenham in 2019, Kane’s impressive numbers never diminished. His explosive start to the 2025-26 season with Bayern Munich, with 18 goals in 10 matches, puts him on par with Messi and Ronaldo. However, upon analyzing his game in depth, his spectacular goalscoring statistics are just the tip of the iceberg. Kane has become a key piece in the build-up phase of the game. Goals remain constant, but now he plays a role in the initiation, development, and completion of Bayern’s attacks. Kane is evolving, and that evolution is contributing to what could be his best season yet. With “Der Klassiker” against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, we analyze how his role has changed since his days at Tottenham, what it could mean for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and his future at club level.

Filling Musiala’s Void

Jamal Musiala’s injury during the Club World Cup left a creative void that Kane has been able to fill. “When Jamal plays, it’s a bit different. Picking up the ball from the defenders, driving, when we played together, it was better for him to do it,” Kane explained after Bayern’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. “This season, it has allowed me to play a bit further back, use my qualities in the sense of turning and playing forward, and then arrive later in the area.” In the match against Frankfurt, Kane occupied the defensive line, then retreated near Joshua Kimmich. When the ball reached Serge Gnabry, the forward moved into the area, scoring a characteristic goal from outside the area.

Kane’s game goes beyond scoring goals. He is now a crucial cog in Bayern’s game construction, often dropping back into his own half to receive the ball from his defense.

The frequency with which Kane makes moves similar to those of Luka Modrić is surprising. He draws players towards his own half, which allows him to find another attacker in space. He initiates and completes plays, which allows him to excel both in scoring and in playmaking.

Kane’s Tactical Evolution

Kane was always more than just a goalscorer, but it took time to discover his other capabilities. At the beginning of his career, his game focused on creating and scoring goals, but near the end of his time at Tottenham, his skills in carrying the ball and involving his teammates were glimpsed. Kane’s heat map from his last two seasons at Tottenham shows how his game has changed. More activity is observed in his own half, near the center circle, or in the spaces between the center backs and full-backs, away from the goal area. In his first two seasons at Bayern Munich, his actions were focused almost entirely on the opposing field, exploiting his qualities as a finisher. In the 2025-26 season, Kane’s heat map shows points across the entire field, with highlighted areas in his own half. The statistics reveal that Kane is combining his attacker and creator skills. His progressive passes are as high as in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, and he has never had more touches in his own area than this season. His ability to link up, hold the ball, and create opportunities, which was underestimated at Tottenham, has been enhanced in Bavaria.

Kane and the World Cup

Kane, England, and coach Thomas Tuchel are determined to win a trophy this summer, and they shouldn’t hesitate to use the “new” Harry Kane to achieve it. England might have already started doing so. Against Serbia, Kane often dropped deep, seeking the ball in more withdrawn positions. In the early stages of the World Cup, Tuchel could opt for Kane in this role to dismantle teams. With Kane drawing a center-back, faster players like Anthony Gordon or Bukayo Saka could exploit the spaces. In the final stages, England could use him as a target man. Kane’s versatility could unlock closed defenses and elevate the performance of other attackers. However, he remains the striker who must get into the area, as there is no other striker in the selection with his finishing ability. The dilemma for Tuchel will be to balance both roles.

What’s Next at the Club Level?

With Kane’s contract with Bayern Munich expiring in 2027, both the club and the player are considering the future. Bayern’s sporting director has hinted at an extension, and the lack of a new contract fuels rumors. Kane’s next step could be to settle pending matters in England. Kane has downplayed a return home, but the reason would be clear: to break Alan Shearer’s record (260 goals; Kane has 213) and try to win a Premier League title. Manchester City has Erling Haaland, and unless a team signs him with a millionaire contract, he will not be replaced. But what would happen if coach Pep Guardiola combined Haaland and Kane? Guardiola usually plays with four attackers and a defensive midfielder behind Haaland, but those four attackers move all over the field. One of them could be Kane, as defenses wouldn’t know who to mark. The disadvantage could be that it would worsen City’s pressing problems. Kane is not a bad presser, but there is no evidence that his work without the ball is sufficient in this new position. Regarding other Premier League clubs, Liverpool has signed three forwards and is trying to find the perfect combination. Arsenal is ruled out due to Kane’s loyalty to Tottenham, which leaves a possible romantic return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Returning to his former club or going to Chelsea or Manchester United would be a step backward. In Europe, Kane could face a new challenge in LaLiga with Real Madrid or Barcelona. Neither the Catalan giants nor Real Madrid have a pure center forward with physical and aerial presence, in addition to Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona. Adding Kane would give Xabi Alonso an even bigger headache when choosing. Mbappé’s form makes Barcelona a more attractive option. It would be difficult to imagine Kane with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri and not be successful, as Barça creates a lot, but is often ineffective in front of goal. As a starting striker, Kane would fit perfectly into Barcelona’s attack.

A Prolonged Stay in Munich?

With his current form, ability, and profile as one of the best players in the world, Kane fits perfectly into a club that competes for the league title and the Champions League every season. That’s why he says he’s open to a new contract with Bayern Munich. “As for staying longer [at Bayern], I definitely see it as possible,” he said on October 6. “I spoke openly a couple of weeks ago that I haven’t had those conversations with Bayern yet, but if they came up, I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation.”

Despite being a tempting prospect for many clubs, Kane has repeatedly spoken about how happy he is in Germany, perhaps even to the point that he himself didn’t expect to enjoy it so much. The feeling has always been that he would eventually return to England, but after winning his first Bundesliga title, it’s clear that his focus is on winning everything possible in Bavaria. With the astonishing way he has adapted to his new role, who can say that he couldn’t extend his contract and become a Bayern Munich legend?