Gnabry Backs Bayern Captain Kane for Ballon d’Or Before Arsenal Clash
Serge Gnabry has backed Bayern Munich team-mate Harry Kane to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League league-phase meeting with Arsenal.
What we know
- Kane, 33, is in contention for football’s leading individual award alongside Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal.
- The Bayern captain scored 61 club goals last season as the German champions won the Bundesliga, while he also led England to a World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
- He has opened 2026-27 with nine goals and six assists in 10 matches. Three of those goals came in two Champions League appearances.
- Bayern sit first in the Bundesliga on 14 points, tied with Borussia Dortmund.
- Gnabry said Kane’s improvement, form and importance to Bayern make him a worthy winner. He described the striker as a player who stays composed, remains locked into games and sets demanding standards for the squad.
- The Arsenal match carries added significance for Gnabry. He left the London club in 2016 after limited opportunities under Arsene Wenger, moved to Werder Bremen, then joined Bayern in 2017 and spent 2017-18 on loan at Hoffenheim. He also played alongside current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Next step: Arsenal, then the Ballon d’Or decision
Gnabry praised Arteta’s work in ending Arsenal’s wait for a title last season, calling it a major achievement after a difficult long-term project. But the Bayern winger made clear where his priorities lie: Bayern need victory on Wednesday.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony follows on Monday, October 26. Kane is also expected to address his Bayern future in the coming weeks, with talks anticipated over an extension to a contract that currently runs until summer 2027.
