Harry Kane has another trophy to celebrate — and this one underlines just how extraordinary his transformation at Bayern Munich has been.

The England captain has been named Germany’s Footballer of the Year for 2026 following a sensational campaign in which he scored 61 goals in 51 competitive appearances for Bayern.

Kane secured 272 votes in the annual poll organised by German football magazine Kicker, finishing comfortably ahead of Bayern teammate Michael Olise, who collected 203.

VfB Stuttgart and Germany striker Deniz Undav finished a distant third with 61 votes.

For Kane, it is another reward for a season he has already described as the best of his career.

61 goals, two major trophies — and another Golden Shoe

There was little mystery surrounding why German sports journalists placed Kane at the top of their ballots.

The 33-year-old scored an astonishing 61 goals across all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign as Bayern successfully defended their Bundesliga title and lifted the DFB-Pokal.

His Bundesliga numbers were equally remarkable.

Kane finished the league season with 36 goals, enough to make him Europe’s leading league scorer and secure the European Golden Shoe for the second time in his career.

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Reflecting on the campaign after receiving the Golden Shoe, Kane summed it up simply:

“It was the best season of my career so far.”

That assessment is difficult to argue with.

Alongside his extraordinary scoring record, Kane finally appears to have put the old narrative about his lack of major team trophies firmly behind him.

Kane also delivered for England at the World Cup

Kane’s remarkable year was not limited to club football.

The striker carried his goalscoring form onto the international stage as England reached the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kane scored six times during England’s run and became the country’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, taking his career tally at the tournament to 14.

His performances for club and country have inevitably intensified another conversation — whether Kane should now be considered a serious contender for football’s biggest individual honour.

Luca Toni says Kane deserves the Ballon d’Or

Former Bayern striker Luca Toni believes Kane’s season deserves even greater recognition.

While paying tribute to Kane following his Golden Shoe triumph, the former Italy international argued that the English striker deserved to win the Ballon d’Or.

Given Kane’s numbers, the argument is understandable.

He has combined an extraordinary individual scoring record with major domestic silverware and another deep World Cup run with England.

Whether that will ultimately be enough to secure the Ballon d’Or remains to be seen, but Kane’s name is now firmly part of the discussion.

Bayern dominate Germany’s annual awards

Kane was not the only Bayern figure celebrating.

The German champions completed a remarkable sweep of the major awards as Vincent Kompany was named Coach of the Year, while Giulia Gwinn won Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Kompany’s victory was emphatic.

The Belgian received 314 votes after guiding Bayern to a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, finishing well ahead of Freiburg coach Julian Schuster, who collected 87 votes, and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß, who received 53.

Kompany’s success is particularly significant considering the doubts that surrounded his appointment when he initially arrived in Munich.

Those questions have largely disappeared after Bayern’s success under his leadership.

Giulia Gwinn completes historic Bayern sweep

There was another reason for celebration in Munich as Germany international Giulia Gwinn was voted the country’s Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Gwinn received 106 votes, narrowly beating Bayern teammate Klara Bühl, who finished with 94. Jule Brand was third with 82 votes.

Her victory even surprised Gwinn herself after injuries disrupted parts of her previous campaign.

The result nevertheless created a piece of Bayern history: the men’s and women’s Footballer of the Year awards went to players from the same club, alongside the Coach of the Year honour.

Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer hailed the achievement, saying the club was proud to see its men’s and women’s teams recognised together.

From searching for trophies to collecting them

When Kane left Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern in 2023, much of the conversation surrounding the move centred on one question: could one of England’s greatest strikers finally add major club trophies to his remarkable personal record?

Three years later, the conversation looks very different.

Kane has now won two Bundesliga titles, the German Cup and the German Supercup during his time in Munich. He has also continued scoring at an extraordinary rate, registering 146 goals in 147 appearances for Bayern, including 98 goals in 94 Bundesliga games.

His latest honour arrives just after Bayern added another trophy, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the 2026 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

Kane did not score that night, but after everything he achieved during the previous campaign, there was hardly any need for another reminder of his importance.

Germany’s sports journalists have now delivered their verdict.

Harry Kane is Germany’s Footballer of the Year — and after the most prolific season of his career, the Ballon d’Or question is only going to get louder.

Manchester United have revealed their squad numbers for the 2026/27 Premier League season, and there is plenty for supporters to talk about.

The biggest surprise is the return of Marcus Rashford wearing the iconic No.9 shirt, a significant change for the England forward after spending much of his Manchester United career associated with No.10.

But there is another detail attracting attention: Carlos Baleba is nowhere to be seen on the list.

That omission might look strange considering United have reached an agreement to sign the highly-rated Cameroon midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion, but there is a straightforward explanation.

Why is Carlos Baleba missing from Manchester United’s squad?

United have reached an agreement with Brighton for Carlos Baleba, with the deal worth an initial £65 million plus up to £5 million in add-ons, according to Reuters.

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However, reaching an agreement between clubs is not the same as formally completing a transfer.

Baleba still has to complete the remaining formalities surrounding his move, including his medical and registration paperwork, before Manchester United can officially unveil him as their player.

The 22-year-old has also recently been dealing with an ankle ligament injury suffered during pre-season. The problem is not expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period, but it adds another element to the process before his United career can properly begin.

Once the transfer is officially completed, United are expected to confirm Baleba’s squad number separately.

Rashford gets a fresh start with No.9

While supporters wait for Baleba’s arrival to become official, Rashford’s new number has produced perhaps the biggest talking point from United’s announcement.

The 28-year-old will wear No.9 for the 2026/27 campaign.

It represents a remarkable change in circumstances for a player whose future at Old Trafford had appeared deeply uncertain.

Rashford fell out of favour under former manager Ruben Amorim and spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Aston Villa before joining Barcelona on loan last season. The Spanish club ultimately decided against making his move permanent.

Now back in Manchester under Michael Carrick, Rashford appears to have been handed another opportunity to establish himself at his boyhood club.

And the No.9 shirt sends a powerful message.

But what happened to Rashford’s No.10?

Rashford wore United’s prestigious No.10 shirt from 2018, but things changed while he was away from Old Trafford.

The number now belongs to Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, leaving Rashford needing a new shirt upon his return.

Rather than reclaiming No.10, Rashford has taken the vacant No.9, previously worn by Rasmus Højlund, who departed United for Napoli.

The choice is particularly intriguing because No.9 has historically been associated with some of Manchester United’s most prominent attacking players.

More importantly, giving Rashford such a significant number appears to underline Carrick’s willingness to reintegrate him into the first-team picture.

Carrick has played down the importance of the number itself, focusing instead on what Rashford can contribute on the pitch.

New signings get their numbers

United’s summer rebuild can also be seen throughout the updated squad list.

Andrey Santos has received No.17, while Youri Tielemans will wear No.18. New goalkeeper Karl Darlow takes No.12, while Tynan Thompson has been assigned No.27.

Youngster Shea Lacey has moved to No.31, another indication that the highly rated academy prospect could have an increased first-team role this season.

Perhaps even more eye-catching is JJ Gabriel, who has been given the No.77 shirt. The teenager is regarded as one of United’s most exciting emerging talents and was involved with Carrick’s squad during pre-season.

Manchester United 2026/27 squad numbers

United’s confirmed numbers include:

1 — Senne Lammens
2 — Diogo Dalot
3 — Noussair Mazraoui
4 — Matthijs de Ligt
5 — Harry Maguire
6 — Lisandro Martinez
7 — Mason Mount
8 — Bruno Fernandes
9 — Marcus Rashford
10 — Matheus Cunha
11 — Joshua Zirkzee
12 — Karl Darlow
13 — Patrick Dorgu
15 — Leny Yoro
16 — Amad Diallo
17 — Andrey Santos
18 — Youri Tielemans
19 — Bryan Mbeumo
22 — Tom Heaton
23 — Luke Shaw
25 — Manuel Ugarte
26 — Ayden Heaven
27 — Tynan Thompson
30 — Benjamin Sesko
31 — Shea Lacey
37 — Kobbie Mainoo
38 — Jack Fletcher
39 — Tyler Fletcher
41 — Harry Amass
43 — Toby Collyer
45 — Dermot Mee
77 — JJ Gabriel

The list confirms Rashford as United’s new No.9 while leaving space for further additions before the transfer window closes.

Rashford returns, but United suffer nightmare start

The announcement came around United’s opening Premier League fixture against Hull City, where Rashford began on the bench before appearing as a second-half substitute.

His return could not prevent a miserable afternoon for Carrick’s team.

Newly promoted Hull stunned United with a 2-0 victory at the MKM Stadium, with Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scoring first-half goals.

Rashford and Benjamin Sesko were introduced after the break but could not inspire a comeback.

The defeat will inevitably increase scrutiny on United’s remaining transfer business — and that makes Baleba’s expected arrival even more significant.

Baleba could be the next piece of Carrick’s midfield

United have already strengthened their midfield with Tielemans and Santos, but Baleba offers a different profile.

The Cameroon international has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most highly regarded young midfielders since joining Brighton from Lille in 2023. He has made more than 100 appearances for the south-coast club and also represented Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Following United’s disappointing performance against Hull, his energy and physical presence could become particularly valuable for Carrick.

So, while Baleba’s absence from Manchester United’s newly released squad list may initially have raised eyebrows, supporters need not necessarily read too much into it.

His transfer simply has not crossed every administrative finish line yet.

For now, the headline belongs to Rashford. After 18 months away and considerable uncertainty surrounding his future, Manchester United’s new No.9 is a very familiar face.

The end of Klay Thompson’s time with the Dallas Mavericks has arrived in an unexpectedly quiet way.

A player whose career was built on championships, All-Star appearances and elite three-point shooting is leaving Dallas without the kind of trade return many would normally expect for a veteran of his stature.

The Mavericks have bought out the final year of Thompson’s three-year, $50 million contract, clearing the way for him to move on. Reports indicate that the veteran guard is expected to join the Miami Heat.

For Dallas, however, the bigger story is not simply Thompson’s departure. It is how the NBA’s increasingly complicated salary-cap rules left the Mavericks with very few realistic options.

Why Couldn’t Dallas Trade Klay Thompson?

On paper, Thompson still had something to offer.

The four-time NBA champion remains one of the most accomplished shooters of his generation. The NBA profile lists him as a five-time All-Star and four-time champion, while his career has been defined by remarkable three-point production.

But the situation surrounding his contract made a trade extremely difficult.

Thompson’s final season with Dallas carried a salary of approximately $17.5 million. Any team interested in acquiring him would have needed enough financial flexibility to absorb that contract while also believing the veteran could still provide meaningful value.

That combination became particularly difficult this late in the offseason.

Teams competing for the postseason are generally already close to the salary-cap restrictions imposed by the league. Finding one that had both the interest in Thompson and the financial room to take on his contract was therefore a major challenge.

The Mavericks Also Had a Roster Problem

There was another issue working against Dallas.

The Mavericks reportedly had 16 players with guaranteed contracts, while an NBA roster cannot simply carry all 16 into the regular season.

That meant Dallas needed to make a move.

A straightforward trade involving Thompson for another player would not necessarily have solved the problem. And finding multiple teams willing to participate in a complicated transaction would have made an already difficult deal even harder.

In other words, the Mavericks were not simply searching for the best possible trade package. They were trying to find a deal that actually worked within the league’s financial and roster rules.

Why Even a Second-Round Pick Was Difficult

For many fans, the obvious question is: why couldn’t Dallas at least get a future second-round pick?

The answer again comes down to salary-cap mechanics.

A team receiving Thompson would still have needed the financial flexibility to absorb his $17.5 million contract. A simple player-for-draft-pick transaction would not magically remove that requirement.

The teams most likely to value an experienced player such as Thompson are also typically teams trying to contend. Those clubs tend to have already committed much of their available salary space to their existing rosters.

Adding another team to manufacture a multi-team trade could theoretically create possibilities, but it would also require every participating franchise to have a reason to cooperate and enough financial flexibility to make the numbers work.

By late August, that is an extremely difficult puzzle to solve.

What Does the Buyout Mean Financially for Dallas?

The Mavericks were reportedly around $2.2 million below the luxury-tax line before completing the buyout.

The move could reduce Dallas’ projected salary commitments for the 2026-27 season by roughly $3.9 million to $6.5 million, depending on the final structure of Thompson’s next contract and the applicable financial calculations.

That is meaningful from a financial standpoint, but it is hardly the kind of return normally associated with moving a player of Thompson’s reputation.

Dallas would remain above the NBA’s soft salary cap while staying below the luxury-tax threshold and both apron levels.

So, rather than receiving a young player or a draft asset, the Mavericks largely gain financial breathing room.

Thompson’s Dallas Chapter Ends Differently Than Expected

When Klay Thompson arrived in Dallas, the move carried significant expectations.

The veteran had spent the bulk of his career with the Golden State Warriors, where he established himself as one of the league’s premier perimeter shooters and helped build a championship dynasty alongside Stephen Curry.

The Mavericks hoped that his experience and shooting would complement their roster.

Instead, Dallas eventually moved in a different direction.

The NBA’s official player profile records Thompson’s four championships, five All-Star selections, two All-NBA selections and an All-Defensive Team honor.

Those achievements remain part of his legacy, even though his Dallas stint did not produce the impact the franchise initially envisioned.

Miami Offers Thompson a Fresh Start

With the buyout completed, Thompson now has an opportunity to begin another chapter with the Miami Heat.

The move gives the veteran shooter a chance to contribute in a different environment while Dallas continues reshaping its roster.

For the Mavericks, meanwhile, Thompson’s departure highlights a larger roster-management problem: once expensive contracts, limited cap space and roster limits collide, even a player with an extraordinary résumé can become surprisingly difficult to move.

The result is striking — Dallas did not turn Thompson into another player or a draft pick. Instead, the franchise gained a relatively modest amount of salary relief and moved on.

For a four-time champion and one of basketball’s most recognizable shooters, that is a remarkably understated ending to his Mavericks chapter.