Honouring prolificacy

Previously called the Gerd Müller Trophy, in honour of the brilliant German forward who sadly passed five years ago, the Striker of the Year merit has been in existence since the 2021 gala.

The criteria was simple: to recognise the most prolific player in top-level football. The goal-scorer who accumulated stats that demanded a second glance because the first glance brought doubt. How can one man have found back of the net so very often?

The inaugural winner was Robert Lewandowski, who fired 69 goals that calendar year – 58 for Bayern Munich and 11 for his country - and the lethal Pole topped his peers once again in 2022.

Twelve months later, Erling Haaland’s incredible numbers for Manchester City and Norway took him to the Théâtre du Châtelet stage in Paris.

In 2024, the award was shared for the first time, with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe both amassing 52 goals.

Last year, the honour went to Viktor Gyokeres for his bountiful return for Sporting Cup and Sweden.

The Bayern machine

A breakdown of Harry Kane’s goal-haul for Bayern Munich in 2025/26 brings up figures that truly astound.

In 31 appearances – 26 starts – for Die Roten in the Bundesliga, the English hit-man fired 36 goals. That equates to a goal every 66.1 minutes.

In the UEFA Champions League meanwhile, he was equally as relentless, converting 14 goals in 13 starts as Bayern reached the semi-finals.

Kane was just as prolific in the domestic cups. More so, in fact.

The 33-year-old was lethal throughout as Bayern secured their 21st DFB-Pokal triumph, scoring 10 times in six outings. This included a hat-trick in the final vs Stuttgart.

Kane’s remarkable numbers meant he won a second European Golden Shoe and the Bundesliga leading goal-scorer merit – the Torjägerkanone – for the third season running.

Harry Kane’s 2025/26 for Bayern Munich by numbers

Bundesliga: 31 appearances, 36 goals, 5 assists

DFB Cup: 6 appearances,10 goals

UEFA Champions League: 13 appearances,14 goals, 2 assists

Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1 appearance,1 goal

Total: 51 appearances, 61 goals, 7 assists

Minutes per goal scored: 66

Minutes per goal or assist: 59

International incessancy

Having become England’s record goal-scorer in 2024, Kane was always going to extend on that tally and reside in a league of his own.

The extent in which he has done so, however, is notable.

After converting 12 goals on the international stage in 2025/26 the Leytonstone-born superstar now boasts 91 strikes for the Three Lions, with a century in touching distance.

His recent batch, of course, includes six scored at the 2026 World Cup finals, three of which were match-winners. In the Americas, Kane succeeded Gary Lineker – himself a five-time Ballon d’or nominee – as his country’s record World Cup goalscorer.

In the time-period in which the Striker of the Year merit is adjudged, Kane scored every 97.7 minutes for England. Since September 2025, in games in which he has participated in, 32.4% of England’s goals have derived from Harry Kane’s boots or head.