Harry Kane (33, Bayern Munich), well known as a close friend of Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), once again faced the stinging criticism that he is "weak in big games."
Kane started in the 2025-2026 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) semifinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on the 7th (Korean time) and scored in stoppage time of the second half.
With this goal, Kane became the first player in Bayern Munich history to record goals in six consecutive UCL tournament matches. Kane scored in every UCL tournament match he played starting from the second leg of the round of 16 against Inter Milan last season. He was on the bench for the first leg of the round of 16 against Atalanta.
But Bayern Munich drew 1-1 with PSG and failed to overturn the 4-5 loss in the first leg away match, losing on aggregate 5-6 and missing out on advancing to the final.
British outlet Football 365 noted that Kane started and finished the scoring in this particular Champions League semifinal but ultimately ended up on the losing side and still has not shown a standout performance in this kind of match that would define his career.
It added that the only criticism Kane even received from Tottenham fans was his lack of decisive contributions in important matches, saying that he returned to the starting lineup in an obviously unfit condition for the 2019 Champions League final and looked dreadful.
Kane, who at the time had an ankle injury, returned and started before the final. But the key player who drove Tottenham to the final was Lucas Moura (34, São Paulo). The outlet described it as a decision that made things worse at the cost of sacrificing the semifinal hero Moura.
The outlet continued that the FA Cup semifinals and the Carabao Cup final passed him by. It even emphasized that significant performances in big matches were not afforded to him with the England national team.
In fact, that day Kane was thoroughly marked by PSG defender Wílian Pacho (25). He scored the equalizer with his characteristic precise shot just before the end of the match, but until then he had only two shots on target.
According to statistics provider FotMob, Kane's pass success rate was 66% (19/29), the lowest among Bayern Munich players who appeared that day, showing he was isolated.
Ultimately, the outlet pointed out that Kane did not show an "overwhelming performance" in a decisive match that could define his career. It noted that he was hardly visible on the pitch for 94 minutes and scored only after the tide of the contest had turned.
The outlet compared Kane with PSG's Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who at decisive moments led their team to the final. It argued that Kane's goal had significance beyond a mere "personal record."
To become a Ballon d'Or winner, Kane needs a decisive moment on a big stage such as a semifinal or final. That said, this is not the end.
The outlet said that Kane's last chance is likely to be the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in North America this summer, noting that the pressure he will face as captain of the England national team will be greater than ever, expressing both concern and expectation.
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