Harry Kane: The Bayern Munich striker can’t stop scoring – is he ready to win the Ballon d’Or?

But there is more to Kane’s Ballon d’Or case than just the goals – the work he does on and off the ball when coming down the line is unmatched by other elite goalscorers.

“Kane has reinvented the centre-forward game, just as Manuel Neuer did with goalkeepers almost a decade and a half ago,” 1990 Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthäus wrote in his column for Sky Germany., external

“I don’t see a better striker in the world right now. Not only because of his goals, but because of his versatility and the positions he plays in.

“Kane also shows his qualities as a passer, dribbler and striker. He is at the same time a scorer, playmaker, footballer and striker.”

The way Kane brings others into matches while also maintaining his amazing goalscoring record does not go unnoticed by his team-mates either.

“Harry makes you better, he’s not just here to finish, he’ll put you in front of goal,” former Bayern team-mate Kingsley Coman said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents show earlier this year.

“I feel like he enjoys finding beautiful passes as much as he enjoys scoring. The amazing thing is that he can do both. He is one of the easy strikers to play with.

“People say if your striker is selfish there will be a problem. But Harry is not selfish and scores 40 or more goals a season.”

After Jamal Musiala’s ankle and leg injury in the summer cost Bayern Munich their main creative force, coach Vincent Kompany modified Kane’s role to give him almost complete attacking freedom on the pitch.

“He plays like three or four different players on the pitch at the same time, and that makes him invaluable,” Raphael Hongstein said on BBC Football Daily’s European Leagues programme.

Mina Razouki added: “His mind is on another level, and his sacrifice for the team is on another level.”