Kane's Ballon d'Or Hinges on Real Madrid Tie

Despite scoring 53 goals in 45 appearances this season, Kane recognizes that goals alone won't secure the Ballon d'Or. Since 2006, nearly 80% of winners have claimed the award in years when they also won the Champions League or a major international tournament, with only Messi and Ronaldo recently defying that trend.

The Bayern striker, who missed Saturday's win at Freiburg with an ankle injury, will captain England at the World Cup but considers his first – and perhaps best – chance for silverware with the German club in their quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.