For Kane, the trophy win will have felt special for many reasons on a personal level, having gone through ups and downs in his career to make it to the very top.
But both the Bundesliga and Bayern know how significant it will also be for the league and the club respectively.
After Kane was announced as the Ballon d’Or winner, large images from the Bundesliga were projected on to landmarks across London such as The Strand and Tate Modern, some featuring the words “England Hero. Bundesliga Legend”.
For the league, Kane’s win will show players that they can come to the Bundesliga and become recognised as the best player in the world, while for Bayern it will show they are capable of attracting the very best talent.
Bundesliga chief executive Marc Lenz said: “Winning the Ballon d’Or is a tremendous recognition of Harry Kane’s extraordinary performances – and also a great success for Bayern and the Bundesliga.
“Harry is not only one of the outstanding players of his generation; he combines sporting excellence with tremendous professionalism, commitment and respect for the game. He gives everything for his team and inspires fans around the world.
“He is a fantastic role model for young players and an outstanding ambassador for the Bundesliga.
“This achievement also underlines that the Bundesliga is a stage where the very best players in the world perform at the highest level.”
Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen added: “For a player from a German club to win the Ballon d’Or for the first time in 30 years is a strong signal for the Bundesliga,” he said.
“Harry is one of the great personalities of world football and a role model to all, far beyond the game.”
German journalist Raphael Honigstein said on BBC Radio 5 live that Kane’s impact at Bayern has been significant.
“He’s made a huge difference,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.
“There’s the goals but beyond that there is the focus on Bayern that has come from him. After four-and-a-half decades Bayern have a player with international recognition the way Kane has it.
“It is big for the team and big for the club because they always crave that international validation, whether it comes through the European Cup or through these individual trophies.
“It is massive.”
Kane’s win understandably was praised in the German media, with Henning Feindt, Bild editor-in-chief for sport, writing: “He is the biggest star the league could wish for.
“For 30 years [since Matthias Sammer in 1996], no Bundesliga player has won the most coveted trophy in world football. And for 45 years, not a Bayern Munich player has won it [since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]. The message Kane is sending to all the world’s superstars: It’s possible in the Bundesliga too.”
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