Harry Kane reached 20 goals this season in just 12 matches for Bayern Munich after scoring in the 4-0 win over Club Brugge. The number is impressive on its own, but it also carries historical weight. He surpassed the pace of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to hit the same mark. Cristiano needed 13 games in 2014/15, a season in which he finished with 61 goals, while Messi reached 20 in 17 matches during his best starts at Barcelona. In Munich, Kane did it one match faster than Cristiano and five faster than Messi, according to Opta.
Numbers that put everything into perspective
Kane is averaging 1.53 goals per game between club and country. He’s scored 20 for Bayern and three for England during the September and October FIFA windows. In just over two months, he’s already approaching half of his best individual seasons. In 2023/24, he scored 44 goals in 45 matches. The year before, he had 41 in 51. His record at Tottenham is 41 goals in 48 games. His current pace is faster than at any other point in his career.
His performance stands out even more in context. Kane didn’t need a long adjustment period after joining Bayern. His scoring production took off immediately. Beyond the goal against Brugge, he’s delivered decisive performances in the Bundesliga and European competitions. His steady form since August has produced numbers that are tough to match even for established forwards.
The impact on the European stage
Beating the pace of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t mean Kane is at their legacy level, but it puts him in a conversation that for years seemed reserved for just a few names. The speed at which he reached 20 goals reinforces his ability to sustain high numbers, something essential for anyone aiming to chase records over a long season. Cristiano, for example, finished the campaign in which he hit the 20-goal mark in 13 games with 61 total goals. Messi scored 73 in 2011/12. To get close to those numbers, Kane will have to keep this scoring rate through May, which means staying consistent across multiple competitions.
What sets this moment apart isn’t just the volume of goals but the consistency. Forwards often go through streaks, but Kane has been scoring steadily with very few dry spells. On top of that, Bayern’s ability to create chances amplifies his efficiency. The team’s attacking system favors finishers, and Kane has made the most of it.