Second Golden Shoe for Harry Kane - Luca Toni’s glowing tribute: 'Premium version of a striker'

Over 60 invited guests gathered at the FC Bayern Museum in the Allianz Arena, including Italian World Cup winner and former FCB striker Luca Toni, who delivered the tribute: In a fitting ceremony, Harry Kane was awarded the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top goalscorer for the second time in his career. “Dear Harry, on behalf of all strikers – past, present and those who still dream of scoring as many goals as you have: every striker is proud of how you have taken our game to a new level,” said Toni. “You are the premium version of a striker.”

Check out the photos of the event in our gallery

At the start of the event, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen welcomed guests during a conversation with Marc Lenz from the Bundesliga and said: “What sets truly world-class players apart is that they continue to develop. Two years ago, I described Harry here, on the occasion of his first Golden Shoe, as a 360-degree striker – and he has taken his game to an even higher level.” As the trophy was presented to the Bayern striker by Toni and Tobias Goldbrunner (‘kicker’ magazine), president Herbert Hainer, board member for sport Max Eberl, sporting director Christoph Freund, head coach Vincent Kompany, board member Rouven Kasper, former president Karl Hopfner and representatives of the Bundesliga joined honorary president Uli Hoeneß in breaking into prolonged applause. Kane had already won the Golden Shoe in the 2023/24 season following his maiden campaign in Munich. On that occasion, too, he secured the award with 36 Bundesliga goals – the highest tally in Europe’s top leagues.

Kane, who was accompanied by his whole family, thanked his teammates, Vincent Kompany and his coaching staff, and everyone “without whom award ceremonies like this would not be possible” after receiving the award. “It’s been an extraordinary season; we can all be very proud. This is a very special team. I think it’s been the best season of my career. I’m looking forward to the new campaign and will give my all to ensure we continue to be so successful together.”

Toni began his tribute in a charming manner, drawing repeated applause with his witty remarks: “I’ve been brushing up on my English over the last couple of days – especially for this award ceremony." He went on to say that delivering a tribute to Kane was easy – “because your whole life reads like a perfect assist; All I have to do is put the ball in the net.” On the other hand, he said, for a former striker it was “also a bit tricky – because you’re breaking the records of everyone who’s played before you. Still, I love football too much to say: ‘Please stop rewriting all our records.’ You are a goal machine: Just keep doing exactly what you're doing! This is your time.”

“In my day, football worked like this,” explained the Italian: “I’d score a goal and cup my hand to my ear. You score a goal – and then you score the next one. And the next one. I’d wait in the box, and when a ball came my way, I’d put it away. You don’t just wait in the box – if the ball doesn’t come to you, you create the chance yourself and then put it away.” There's often just no space for a striker in the penalty area: “A good striker finds it – and Harry Kane creates it.” Kane has turned the 'false nine' into something completely new: “Future strikers will be judged against your standards.” Moreover, Kane is a team player who also looks out for others off the pitch: through the Harry Kane Foundation, he's particularly committed to promoting mental health. “Dear Harry – we take our hats off to a great sportsman and one of the greatest figures in modern football.” At The Best FIFA Football Awards, he’d love to deliver the tribute to him again, said Toni: “Congratulations on your second Golden Shoe as Europe’s top scorer! No one deserves it more than you.” He concluded his speech by asking for a selfie together: “Because you’re the best, the numero uno – and because I love the way you play!”

Kane is important to FC Bayern, “far beyond his goals”, added Dreesen: “If I had to describe him in one sentence, I would say: exceptional quality, exceptional ability and exceptional character.” The fact that Kane, like Lewandowski, has been awarded the Golden Shoe for the second time shows that “FC Bayern is a fantastic home for great strikers.”

The ceremony was hosted by TV presenter Britta Hoffmann; the programme included video compliations of Kane’s goals, as well as messages from football greats from around the world, ranging from Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand to Jürgen Klinsmann, Robert Lewandowski and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Kane is the third Bayern player, after Gerd Müller – who won the Golden Boot in 1970 and 1972 – and Robert Lewandowski (2021 and 2022), to have now received this special award for the second time – only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been awarded it more often.

The trophy for the season’s top scorer was awarded by the French sports magazine L'Équipe from 1968 to 1991. Since 1997, the association of  “European Sports Media” has been presenting the award. Alongside Gerd Müller and Lewandowski, former Bayern players Roy Makaay and Luca Toni also made it onto the illustrious list of winners, albeit whilst still playing for Deportivo and Fiorentina respectively.