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Bayern Munich and the long, heartbreaking wait for the Ballon d’Or

With Harry Kane touted as the top candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, we rewind to Bayern Munich's best results at the event.

By Tuan Duy Luong · Bayern Strikes

Published: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 11:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Bayern Munich has not had a Ballon d'Or winner since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge secured the trophy in 1981.
Harry Kane is highlighted as a leading contender to end Bayern's 46-year drought at the 2026 ceremony.
Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge remain Bayern Munich's only Ballon d'Or recipients.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Bayern Munich enters the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony with Harry Kane considered a leading candidate, raising hopes of ending the club's long wait for the award. Bayern has not had a player win the prize since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981, despite numerous podium finishes over the subsequent decades.

The retrospective highlights notable near-misses by Bayern players, including top-three finishes by Oliver Kahn, Franck Ribery, Manuel Neuer, and Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski's prime years featured the cancellation of the 2020 award and a second-place finish behind Lionel Messi in 2021.

Read the full article on Bayern Strikes

Bayern Munich and the long, heartbreaking wait for the Ballon d’Or

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