Bellingham backs Kane for Ballon d’Or but hopes Real Madrid can shut him down in Munich

Munich—Jude Bellingham lavished praise on England teammate Harry Kane on Tuesday, declaring the Bayern Munich striker a genuine Ballon d’Or contender, before immediately adding that he and Real Madrid intend to silence the forward in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Allianz Arena.

Kane heads into the tie as Europe’s most prolific marksman this season, his 49 goals in all competitions powering Bayern to the brink of the Bundesliga title and firing the German club to a 2-1 aggregate lead over Madrid after the first leg, in which he struck the decisive goal at the Bernabéu.

Speaking on the eve of the return match, Bellingham hailed Kane’s influence for both club and country and argued that individual accolades are now within reach.

“Whether he can win the Ballon d’Or depends on what the team does,” the 20-year-old Madrid midfielder told reporters. “He’s a fantastic player. I think they’re going to win the Bundesliga, even though it pains me for my brother’s sake. I’m proud to have him in the national team; he’s shown just how good he is. It’s a pleasure to watch him play.”

Yet club loyalties quickly reasserted themselves. Bellingham, whose side must overturn a one-goal deficit to keep their European hopes alive, conceded he would prefer Kane’s hot streak to cool at the worst possible moment.

“Let’s see if he can carry this form into the World Cup,” Bellingham added. “I hope he doesn’t turn up tomorrow, or that we manage to stop him.”

An Englishman has not claimed the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001; Kane, 32, has emerged as the leading candidate to end that drought should he maintain his current trajectory through the final weeks of the season and into this summer’s global tournament.

For now, though, the immediate focus is Munich, where Madrid’s season—and Kane’s pursuit of a maiden Champions League crown—hang in the balance.

SEO keywords: