Why Real Madrid tie could make or break Kane's Ballon d'Or hopes

Why Real Madrid tie could make or break Kane's Ballon d'Or hopesImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Harry Kane is vying to become the first British Ballon d'Or winner for 25 yearsByTom McCoyBBC Sport journalistPublished3 minutes agoCommentsNo player in Europe comes close to matching Harry Kane's goalscoring record this season – but could an untimely ankle problem scupper his Ballon d'Or chances?The Englishman has scored 53 times in 45 appearances for club and country this term but knows goals alone won't be enough to land the award, which is why he will be desperate to be fit for Bayern Munich's crunch Champions League game against Real Madrid on Tuesday (20:00 BST).Kane, who missed Saturday's dramatic 3-2 victory at Freiburg because of the injury, ended his trophy drought by winning the Bundesliga last season, but more domestic honours in Germany won't secure him football's most prestigious individual prize.Rightly or wrongly, the Ballon d'Or isn't simply a case of rewarding solo brilliance. It is increasingly a prerequisite to also being part of a team that lands one of the game's biggest titles - the Champions League, World Cup or a continental equivalent such as the European Championship.Kane will get two bites at the cherry this year, captaining England at the World Cup in the summer, but his first – and arguably best - chance comes with Bayern.The Bavarians have been in scintillating form this season, winning 37 of 43 games, but will need their talisman fit and firing as their European credentials are tested in a quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu."I could score 100 goals this season, but if I don't win the Champions League or the World Cup, you're probably not going to win the Ballon d'Or," Kane said in November. "It's the same with any player. You have to be winning those major trophies."History suggests he is right. Since 2006, almost 80% of Ba...