Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe were handed the Gerd Muller trophy at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, becoming the most prolific strikers on the planet.
The relatively new prize was only launched in 2021 and previously went by the more straightforward name of ’the Striker of the Year Award’. Rebranded to honour the legendary finishing ability of Bayern Munich’s all-time top scorer, Kane and Mbappe were fitting recipients on Monday night after goal-laden campaigns.
Kane directly followed in Muller’s footsteps last season. After securing a record-breaking move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, England’s ruthless captain set about systematically dismantling every scoring record in his way. Bayern’s new number nine finished a staggering campaign with 44 goals in 45 games at club level.
Whereas Mbappe enjoyed a stunning season, netting 44 goals in 48 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. He played a key role in his squad’s journey to Ligue 1 glory before making a highly-anticipated move to Real Madrid in the summer.
Despite his unrelenting torrent of strikes, which included four hat-tricks and seven braces, Kane and Bayern ended the season without a single piece of silverware. He came within one match of ending his personal wait for a senior trophy at Euro 2024, only to lose to Spain in the final.
Both strikers found the back of the net 52 times for club and country, honouring them both with the Gerd Muller trophy.
