Harry Kane got Rice’s vote the hard way. The Arsenal midfielder stood in front of a TNT Sports camera at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, moments after Kane had assisted one goal and converted a penalty against him in a 2-2 Champions League draw.

“He is the clear winner. His numbers speak for themselves, the year he has had has been remarkable,” Rice told TNT Sports.

“When you play with him you realize how good he is, and when you play against him you see how much of a pain it is. He is ridiculous, such a good player, and I am lucky I can play with him, not so lucky I have to play against him.”

Kane shaped both Bayern goals

Eberechi Eze had put Arsenal ahead in the 25th minute after coming on for the injured Bukayo Saka. Kane answered twice. He threaded the pass that teed up Alphonso Davies for the equalizer ten minutes later, then converted from the spot in the 61st minute to put the hosts in front. Rice leveled it in the 82nd, Arsenal’s late reward for a hard night in Bavaria.

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Kane was named man of the match. His penalty took his run to a goal in ten consecutive Champions League appearances, one short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s competition record of eleven.

61 goals in 51 games last season

The numbers Rice pointed to are the ones France Football will weigh on Monday. Kane scored 61 goals in 51 club appearances in 2025-26 before adding 10 in 11 games across the current campaign, a workload that has carried him deep into the race for football’s individual prize.

The 2026 ceremony leaves Paris for the first time in its 70-year history. France Football and UEFA have moved it to the London Palladium Theatre, with the show scheduled for 8pm local time on Monday, 26 October. The city was chosen in tribute to Stanley Matthews, the England winger who won the inaugural prize in 1956.

Yamal and Dembélé in the field

Kane shares the 30-man ballot with Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who also appears on the Young Talent of the Year shortlist, and with the defending holder, Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé. Thierry Henry and Kate Scott will host the evening at the Palladium.

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