Harry Kane: Bayern Munich forward receives Golden Boot

Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane has won the Golden Boot award as European football’s top scorer for the 2023-24 season.

Kane scored 36 goals in his debut season in the Bundesliga and is the first English striker to win the award since Kevin Phillips in 2000.

The 31-year-old is also the third Bayern player to win the Golden Boot, after two-time winners Gerd Muller and Robert Lewandowski.

Speaking at a ceremony in Bavaria, Kane said: “It’s a fantastic feeling. I can only thank the club and my team-mates. The award is for everyone – without you I wouldn’t be here.”

The Golden Boot was created in the 1967–68 season and was previously awarded to the top scorer in a European competition.

However, in 1997 the rules were changed and a ranking method was used that favoured players from higher-ranked leagues.

Lionel Messi is the only player to have won the award six times. Cristiano Ronaldo has won it four times and Erling Haaland won the award the season before Kane.

“It’s special to be mentioned in the same breath as these names now,” Kane added.

While the England captain scored an average of a goal every 79 minutes in the German top division last season, Bayern ended the season without winning any trophies for the first time since 2012.

And Kane, who has been on a roll this season after scoring in the German Cup against Ulm, added: “I want to continue as I started last season, but it is important to win titles. We want to achieve success as a team.

“I feel really good and I’m looking forward to the new season. I feel a new energy and I’m looking forward to seeing where it leads.”