Sports
Harry Kane is tearing up the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich. What’s next for England’s No. 9?
The 2020 documentary “All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur” provided a revealing glimpse into Harry Kane‘s psyche. In a one-on-one chat with then-manager Jose Mourinho, Kane said: “When you’re at a club like Tottenham, we’ve done well and I’ve done well, but I want to be [Cristiano Ronaldo] or [Lionel Messi].”
Some might have scoffed at the English striker’s ambition as shown on screen, but despite the constant change after Mauricio Pochettino’s departure as Spurs manager in 2019, Kane’s brilliant numbers never waned. His blistering start to the 2025-26 campaign with Bayern Munich (18 goals in 10 matches), is on par with Messi and Ronaldo.
Take a deeper look at his overall game, however, and his gaudy scoring stats are just scratching the surface. He has never been more influential in the buildup phase of play. The goals remain a constant, but he now plays a role at the start, middle and end of Bayern’s attacks. Kane is evolving, and that evolution is contributing to perhaps his best season yet.
With Saturday’s Der Klassiker vs. Borussia Dortmund on the horizon (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+), let’s examine how his role has changed from his days at Spurs, what it could mean for England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and his future at the club level.
Filling a Musiala-shaped hole
When star midfielder Jamal Musiala picked up an injury during the Club World Cup, it left a creative void. Kane has taken up the mantle.
“When Jamal’s playing, it’s a bit different. Getting the ball off defenders, driving, when we were playing together, it was better for him to go and do that,” Kane explained after Bayern’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt. “This season, it’s allowed me to play a little bit deeper, use my qualities in that sense of turning and playing it forward, then arriving later in the box.”
The goal he scored in that game saw Kane occupy Frankfurt’s defensive line before peeling back close to Joshua Kimmich just ahead of the center circle. When the ball was played up to Serge Gnabry near the edge of the penalty area, the striker moved forward from the middle of the pitch, slotting into a gap created by him initially dropping for a trademark finish from outside the box.
But Kane’s game is about more than just arriving late to score goals. He’s now a crucial cog in Bayern’s buildup, often seen deep in his own half to receive the ball from his own defense.
In the ninth minute of the same game, Kane received the ball near the sideline in the left-back position, wriggled past two challengers and found Gnabry in space.
The surprising thing is how much of a regularity such Luka Modric-esque moves are becoming. Players get sucked into following Kane so far into Bayern’s half that he can find another attacker in space as he holds the ball up.
He initiates the moves, and he completes them. Both his inevitable goal scoring and his playmaking ability are thriving as a result.
How Kane’s game has evolved
Kane was always more than a goal poacher: it just took some time to discover his alternative capabilities.
At the beginning of his career and in his first two seasons in Germany, Kane’s game centered on creating chances or scoring them, but mainly scoring. He amassed many shots and touches in the box under Pochettino, and shades of his ball-carrying and ability to bring others into the game appeared near the end of his Tottenham Hotspur spell.
Kane’s heat map from his last two seasons at Tottenham, depicting where he was most active, helps show how his game has changed. More color appears in his own half, near the center circle, or in half-spaces (the channels between center backs and fullbacks) away from goal.
In his first two seasons at Bayern Munich, his actions took place almost entirely in the opponent’s half, as he leaned more into his talents as a finisher.
Looking at Kane’s heat map for the 2025-26 season, spots emerge all over the pitch, with highlighted areas deep in his own half.
Statistics show that this season, Kane is back to combining the best of his abilities as an attacker and a creator. His progressive passes are as high as they were in 2021-22 and 2023-24, while he has never had more touches in his own box than this season.
It’s clearly working. “Arriving late,” as Kane puts it, has seen his expected assists and shot-creating actions rise. He has provided a solution to Bayern’s shortage of creativity in midfield, as Kimmich and Leon Goretzka aren’t the most inventive midfielders. (All stats below are per 90 minutes.)
His link-up play, hold-up ability and chance-creating talents were underrated during his time in north London, but in Bavaria, that part of his game has been elevated. It is now being used in spaces where you’d typically see Kimmich, and it’s the absolute best of both worlds.
Looking ahead to the World Cup
Kane, England and coach Thomas Tuchel will be determined to get their hands on an elusive trophy this summer, and they shouldn’t be afraid to use the “new” Harry Kane to do so. Ominously for the rest of the competition, England might have started doing this already.
Against Serbia, while he spent most of the game occupying their back five, Kane would often peel off and look for the ball deeper.
In the early stages of the World Cup, Tuchel could opt for Kane in this role to break teams down. With Kane dragging a center back of out of position, faster players such as Anthony Gordon or Bukayo Saka can be played in behind. In the latter stages (should England reach them), England might have less of the ball and use him more like a target man, as they did in the first minute of the Serbia game when a long ball was sent into the box for Kane to nod down.
Kane’s versatility could unlock defenses that sit deep and elevate other attackers. However, he still needs to be the striker who gets into the box, as there isn’t another striker in the national side with his finishing ability. Lucky for England, he can do both. The conundrum for Tuchel will be balancing both roles.
What’s next at club level?
With Kane’s Bayern Munich contract set to expire in 2027, both club and player are thinking about what happens next. Bayern’s sporting director has hinted at an extension, and the longer a new contract isn’t signed, the more rumors and conjecture will swirl.
We’ve taken the liberty of looking ahead for Kane, and his next step could be to settle unfinished business in England. Kane has played down a return home, but the motive would be clear: to break Alan Shearer’s goal-scoring record (260; Kane has 213) and attempt to win a Premier League title.
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Manchester City have Erling Haaland, and unless a team comes along to sign him out of his massive contract, he won’t be displaced. But what if manager Pep Guardiola combined Haaland and Kane?
Guardiola likes to play with four attackers and one holding midfielder behind Haaland, but those four attackers float around the pitch. One of those players could be Kane, as defenses wouldn’t know who to mark.
The downside could be that it exacerbates some of the out-of-possession issues City have had in their press this season. The forward line has left huge gaps as City have pressed aggressively. Kane isn’t a bad presser, but if he’s asked to drop deeper, we have no evidence to suggest whether his work without the ball would be sufficient in this new position, particularly in terms of tackling and closing players down.
Teams are smart about exploiting space. Guardiola couldn’t have both players pressing as forwards. Still, most of City’s game will be played with them dictating the tempo, so the focus will be on what Kane brings in possession. It’s inventive, but with Guardiola, it’s wild enough to work.
In terms of other Premier League clubs, Liverpool have signed three attackers and are trying to figure out how they fit. Arsenal are ruled out because of Kane’s Spurs allegiance, which leaves a possible romantic return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. After getting a taste of his first piece of silverware, though, Kane returning to his old club or moving to Chelsea or Manchester United would be a step down.
Elsewhere in Europe, with the lack of funds in Serie A, Kane’s next challenge could be tackling LaLiga with Real Madrid or Barcelona. Neither the Catalan giants nor Real Madrid have a pure No. 9 with a physical and aerial presence, besides Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona, whose contract expires in summer 2026. Since Joselu left Real Madrid, Los Blancos have missed the player, as Thibaut Courtois highlighted last season. “We put in a lot of crosses, but this year we don’t have Joselu, a natural striker up front,” he said after being knocked out of the Champions League by Arsenal.
Coach Xabi Alonso has a vast array of talent in attack that he likes to rotate. Adding Kane would give the Spaniard an even bigger selection headache. The Bayern forward isn’t accustomed to that, and Lewandowski’s expiring contract and Kylian Mbappé‘s tremendous form make Barcelona a more attractive option. It’s hard to envision Kane combining with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri and not being successful, as Barça create plenty but are often wasteful in front of goal. As the starting striker, Kane would be a perfect fit in Barcelona’s swaggering attack.
A longer stay in Munich?
With his current form, ability and profile as one of the world’s best players, Kane is a suitable fit for a club that challenges for a league title and the Champions League every season. It’s why he says he’s open to a new contract with Bayern Munich.
“In terms of staying longer [at Bayern], I could definitely see that,” he said Oct. 6. “I spoke openly a couple of weeks ago that I have not had those conversations with Bayern yet, but if they were to arise I would be willing to talk and have an honest conversation.”
Despite being a tantalizing prospect for many clubs, Kane has repeatedly spoken of how happy he is in Germany — maybe to the point where he himself didn’t expect to enjoy it this much.
The feeling has always been that he would eventually return to England, but after winning his first Bundesliga title, it’s clear his focus is on winning as much as possible in Bavaria. With the astonishing way he has adapted to his new role, who’s to say he couldn’t extend his contract and become a Bayern Munich legend?
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) governing council’s working committee held a late-night meeting to discuss key matters for the upcoming season, including the player auction and retention policies, sources told Geo News on Sunday.
According to insiders, the committee agreed to introduce a player auction for PSL 11 and also finalised the rules for player retention.
The committee’s decisions will be sent to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for final approval, with the option of convening a full governing council meeting if required.
Sources revealed that the defending champions Lahore Qalandars, along with Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Hyderabad, voted in favour of the player auction model.
Peshawar Zalmi and the Sialkot franchise also voted in favour of the ‘drauction’ system, sources said.
It was also confirmed that the five existing franchises agreed on retaining four players each, one in each category, with one player eligible to be brought into a lower category and designated as a brand ambassador, sources said.
The new franchises, meanwhile, will select their remaining players from the general player pool through the auction system. Two new franchises, however, insisted on zero retention.
“The remaining players will be auctioned, and franchises will pick their players in the auction,” sources said.
The final formula for the PSL 11 auction and retention rules will be submitted to Mohsin Naqvi, with an official announcement expected within the next one or two days.
Sources said there is a possibility that it will not be made mandatory to include a player from the Emerging category in the playing XI.
The PSL auction is likely to be held during the first week of February, sources said.
Earlier, Naqvi advised franchise owners to increase the players’ salary cap as the marquee league enters a new era with the addition of two new teams.
Highlighting the rise in franchise market value, he encouraged teams to adopt the auction model.
“Conduct an auction of players in the PSL 11 draft and select players of your choice — they will benefit from it,” Naqvi told franchise owners during the meeting.
PSL 11 is set to begin on March 26, marking a significant milestone as the league expands from six to eight teams with the inclusion of new franchises from Sialkot and Hyderabad.
The historic PSL 2026 auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8 this year, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers secure ownership of the new franchises for Rs 1.75 billion and Rs 1.85 billion, respectively.
Trump arrives at 2025 Army-Navy game
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others arrive at the Army-Navy game just outside of Washington, D.C., and salute during the national anthem.
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President Donald Trump said Saturday that he plans to sign an executive order protecting the broadcast slot for the Army-Navy football game.
Trump’s announcement on Truth Social comes amid a push to expand the NCAA College Football Playoff, which could potentially affect the Army-Navy game’s traditional time slot.
“The Army-Navy Game is one of our Greatest American Traditions — Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor!” Trump wrote. “This incredible Tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more College Playoff Games, and Big TV Money. NOT ANYMORE!”
PROTESTS ERUPT OUTSIDE ARMY-NAVY GAME AMID TRUMP’S ATTENDANCE
President Donald Trump walks onto the field with Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, left, and Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, right, unseen, before the start of the 126th Army-Navy NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
The president said his executive order will secure an exclusive four-hour broadcast window in December for the event that cannot be challenged by another postseason football game.
“Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!” Trump said. “I will soon sign a Historic Executive Order securing an EXCLUSIVE 4 hour Broadcast window, so this National Event stands above Commercial Postseason Games. No other Game or Team can violate this Time Slot!!!”
President Donald Trump (C) greets players after the coin toss and before the start of the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Trump praised the rivalry, adding that “on the battlefield they are America’s unstoppable Patriots, defending our Country with tremendous Strength and Heart.”
“We must protect the Tradition, and the Players, who protect us,” he added. “Please let this serve as Notice to ALL Television Networks, Stations, and Outlets.”
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President Donald Trump walks onto the field for the 126th Army-Navy Game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen on Dec. 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Trump attended the 126th installment of the rivalry game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Dec. 13, his seventh appearance at the game. The Navy Midshipmen captured the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with a 17-16 victory over Army.
The president said he will also attend the College Football Playoff championship Monday in Miami, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Former Pakistan Captain and Star batter Babar Azam. Photo: X
KARACHI:
It is never easy to step out of your comfort zone. You don’t really know how talented you might be until you bring change within yourself or explore new paths. Perhaps you could achieve greater success but there’s a certain fear that holds you back: What if I fail? You fear losing even what you already have. So, many people choose to settle for what they’ve got.
Maybe that’s why the growth of some talented individuals eventually stops. Of course, financial or personal factors make taking risks even harder. But if we look at the most successful people, most of them are those who did step out of their comfort zones, discovered their true selves, and changed their ways.
If we talk about cricket, the difference between the past and the present eras is like night and day. In the old days, there was only Test cricket, and it was considered the crown jewel of the sport. Then came One-Day Internationals money began to flow in, and players’ focus shifted toward it. Now, it’s the era of T20 cricket.
The new generation gives T20’s explosive players the same legendary status that fans of the past gave to Don Bradman. The only difference is the real Bradman is still remembered decades later, whereas the “Bradmans” of T20 fade from memory after a short while.
Today, players prefer to earn huge sums from a few hours of T20 rather than grind through long Test matches. Test cricket has fallen to the point where even a major cricketing nation like Pakistan plays only four or five matches a year.
Very few cricketers remain who can perform in all three formats, and even among those, many try to use their stardom to make themselves indispensable often to the detriment of their teams.
In the past, players used to say, “We play for the country and the nation.” Now, even that courtesy is gone. Today’s players happily abandon international cricket to earn dollars from leagues. Their justification is that international careers are short. If that’s really the case, then they shouldn’t use their national teams as a stepping stone they should sign with leagues from the start. But of course, that’s not possible.
Leagues have also become a way to shatter many superstars’ egos. At home, you’re treated like a hero and if competition isn’t strong, you can stay in the team for years even when out of form. But leagues are different. Franchises spend millions to hire the world’s best talent, and they expect performance in every match. If you don’t meet those expectations, you face situations you could never imagine in your home team.
That hurts your ego and sometimes, you react in ways no one expects.
Something like this happened in the Big Bash League (BBL). Usually, in the last over of an innings, a batter will refuse a single to protect the tail-ender and take the strike himself for the next over. Babar Azam has done that many times. But he probably never imagined someone would do the same to him.
Playing for the Sydney Sixers, he opened alongside Steve Smith who hadn’t played a T20 international for two years. On the last ball of the 11th over, Babar played a shot that offered a single, but Smith refused it. Babar looked visibly annoyed. In the next over, Smith smashed 32 runs proving his decision right. Babar, on the other hand, got out on 47 and, while walking off, hit his bat against the boundary rope in frustration.
Fans were stunned, and commentators found his reaction unexpected.
Babar scored 47 off 39 balls, while Smith reached a century off just three balls more a striking contrast between the two innings. Could anyone in the Pakistan team ever dare to act that way with Babar? Of course not.
Earlier, Melbourne Renegades’ captain had even called Mohammad Rizwan back from batting for playing too slowly.
We might find such treatment of our stars unacceptable, but let’s be honest does their batting really suit modern T20 cricket? Are our complaints justified?
Among all batters in the Big Bash, the lowest strike rates belong to these two.
Franchise cricket doesn’t tolerate this they pay you huge sums and expect results. The “king’s reign” works only at home; abroad, your ego doesn’t get the same royal treatment.
This is cricket but the same rule applies in life. At home, we still don’t have enough quality batters to replace Babar, so he’s back in T20s.
At home, you can talk however you like to your parents, but can you speak that way to your boss at work? Of course not.
Those who fail to adapt with time get left behind. Just look at the descendants of past emperors in India today their condition says it all.
We must look at the present, not live in the past. It’s wiser to leave your stardom and ego at home and focus on your work.
The real question is whether Babar still suits modern T20 cricket or whether he should now focus only on Tests and ODIs. The upcoming World Cup will give us the answer.
As for Rizwan, his T20 career seems practically over. Both have done great service for Pakistan, but they have always been criticized for slow batting in T20s and they didn’t make much effort to change themselves. They took things for granted.
Now, facing the world’s best in franchise leagues, their weaknesses are being exposed.
The Bangladesh league is so low in quality that even Haider Ali captains there. Some argue that if Babar and Rizwan had played there, they would’ve continued scoring runs against weak bowling and flat pitches. But in Australia, with world-class bowling and bouncy tracks, they’ve struggled.
Maybe they shouldn’t have gone to the Big Bash — but I don’t agree with that. Both are world-class batters and capable of performing anywhere.
The issue isn’t who they are it’s whether they can focus on what they can become.
There are still matches left they can still show their talent.
Just stop hitting your bat on the boundary rope and start hitting the ball. Only then will your team get runs, and your ego will find true satisfaction.
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