Harry Kane has added another historic milestone to his career by being named Germany's footballer of the year for 2026. The Bayern Munich forward made history as the first English player to claim the prestigious honor since its inception.

The recognition follows a remarkable campaign in which the England captain found the back of the net 61 times across all competitions. His prolific scoring propelled Bayern Munich to a domestic league and cup double, alongside a strong run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Organized by Kicker magazine, the award is decided by hundreds of votes cast by members of the German sports journalists association. Eligible candidates include any player competing in the Bundesliga as well as German athletes plying their trade abroad. Kane secured the top spot by receiving 272 votes from the panel.

His Bayern Munich teammate Michael Olise finished as the runner-up in the voting tally with 203 votes. Leadership at the Bavarian club was quick to praise the striker's unprecedented impact since moving to Germany. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl noted that the forward's achievements frequently leave observers searching for adequate superlatives.

Kane's exceptional form has also made him a leading contender for the upcoming Ballon d'Or, scheduled to be presented in London in October. Should he secure that accolade, he would mirror the feat of fellow Englishman Kevin Keegan, who won the global prize in the late 1970s while playing for Hamburg.

The accolades extended beyond the star forward during a successful period for the Munich club. Head coach Vincent Kompany was recognized as the coach of the year, while Bayern women's team captain Giulia Gwinn claimed the prize for the top female player.

The celebrations for Kane and Kompany are set to take place ahead of Bayern's opening Bundesliga fixture against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena. The club already opened its competitive schedule by lifting the German Super Cup following a victory over Borussia Dortmund. Additionally, the English marksman collected the Golden Shoe earlier in the week for finishing as the highest scorer across Europe's premier domestic divisions last season.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.