From England boss Thomas Tuchel throwing his weight behind Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or bid to a chaotic Madrid derby and more hat-trick heroics from Raphinha and Mohamed Salah, here is everything happening across European football this week.
Tuchel: Kane can still be England’s main man at 36
England manager Thomas Tuchel has thrown his backing behind Harry Kane to win next month’s Ballon d’Or and believes the Bayern Munich striker can still be leading the line for his country at the 2030 World Cup, by which point he will be 36 years old.
Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during a remarkable 2025/26 campaign, helping Bayern to the Bundesliga title, the German Cup and the German Super Cup, while also picking up a bronze medal at the World Cup after England overcame their semi-final heartache against Argentina to secure their best finish on foreign soil. Those performances have made him the bookmakers’ clear favourite to become the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
Asked directly whether Kane was his pick to win, Tuchel said that after the season he has had, with more than 70 goals and three trophies at Bayern alongside semi-final runs at both the World Cup and Champions League, the answer was yes. He praised Kane’s growing physicality and his commitment to pressing and contributing in every phase of play, calling him a genuinely complete forward. Asked whether Kane’s age could be a factor by the time the next World Cup arrives, Tuchel dismissed the concern entirely, insisting quality is all that matters regardless of age.
Kane is already England’s all-time leading scorer and will equal Peter Shilton’s men’s national team appearance record of 125 caps if he features in all four fixtures during this international window, which begins with a Wembley meeting against World Cup winners Spain on Saturday.
Kane smashes 100-goal Bundesliga record
Kane’s case for individual glory was further strengthened last week when he shattered the record for the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals, doing so in a 7-0 demolition of Union Berlin in just his 98th league appearance for Bayern. The previous mark, set by Cologne’s Dieter Muller back in 1977, had stood for 49 years and took 129 matches to reach.
Since joining Bayern in 2023, Kane has been scoring in the Bundesliga at a rate of roughly a goal every 78.5 minutes and has now netted 152 times in 154 appearances in all competitions, including 61 goals in just 51 games last season. He converted a 39th-minute penalty to bring up the landmark before adding a second with a header from a Michael Olise cross, sending Bayern top of the table. Speaking afterwards, Kane said he was proud to have reached 100 and 101 Bundesliga goals so quickly and thanked his teammates and coaching staff for helping make it possible.
Kane has also addressed the Ballon d’Or speculation directly, telling a Spanish outlet that while having the ceremony held in London this year, to mark the award’s 70th anniversary and honour first-ever winner Sir Stanley Matthews, feels like a good omen, the final decision remains out of his hands and rests entirely with the voting panel. He described the 2025/26 campaign as by far the best season of his career, both individually and collectively.
Bayern eye Olmo as Barcelona contingency plan
Bayern Munich are reportedly exploring a potential January move for Barcelona forward Dani Olmo as they draw up contingency plans amid growing external interest in both Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise. The German club have tracked Olmo closely since his successful four-year spell with RB Leipzig, though he would not arrive cheaply, with his valuation sitting in the region of £60million.
Olmo played a key role in Spain’s World Cup triumph over the summer, starting all but two of the tournament’s matches, including the final, and setting up two goals along the way. Since joining Barcelona from Leipzig for around £47million in 2024, the 28-year-old has scored 20 goals and provided 20 assists in close to 100 appearances for the club.
Kvaratskhelia embraces George Best comparisons
Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has said he is proud to be compared with the late George Best as he prepares to face Northern Ireland in the Nations League. Kvaratskhelia is hoping to follow in Best’s footsteps by winning the Ballon d’Or after being named the Champions League’s best player last season as Paris Saint-Germain completed a second consecutive European and domestic double.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Kvaratskhelia said he had heard stories about Best over the years and considered it both a pleasure and a source of pride to be mentioned in the same breath as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. His national team manager joked he was relieved the comparisons stopped at footballing talent, given Best’s well-documented lifestyle away from the pitch, while praising Kvaratskhelia as a fantastic team-first personality as much as a supremely gifted player.
Kvaratskhelia will compete against the likes of Kane, Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe for the award when it is presented in London on October 26, and said simply being considered among that group already felt like a special achievement, particularly as a representative of a small footballing nation.
Yoro handed first France call-up
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has received his first senior call-up to the France squad after being promoted from the under-21 setup. New national team boss Zinedine Zidane called up Yoro as cover for Real Madrid centre-back Ibrahima Konate, who has picked up a minor thigh injury. France open their Nations League campaign away at Turkey on Friday before travelling to Belgium the following Monday, with Yoro having made four appearances in all competitions for Manchester United so far this season.
Ten-man Real Madrid fall in fiery Madrid derby
Real Madrid suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid, with Jose Mourinho’s side reduced to ten men after Dean Huijsen was sent off for a last-man challenge that also conceded a penalty. Alejandro Grimaldo converted from the spot before Jonathan David doubled Atletico’s advantage six minutes later. Antonio Rudiger gave Real late hope with an 89th-minute header, but the comeback fell agonisingly short.
The result lifts Atletico above their rivals into second place in La Liga, five points behind a Barcelona side who remain unbeaten, while Real slip to third. Mourinho later held up printed images of two controversial challenges from the match during his post-match press conference, appearing to question the officiating decisions that went against his team.
Raphinha hat-trick keeps Barcelona perfect
Raphinha struck a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 and maintain their flawless start to the La Liga season. Youssouf Fofana had given Sevilla an early lead, but Raphinha levelled just three minutes later before completing his treble with two further goals after the interval. The result means Barcelona have won all seven of their league matches this season and sit six points clear at the top of the table.
Salah rolls back the years in Turkey
Mohamed Salah produced a stunning hat-trick as Trabzonspor thrashed Turkish champions Galatasaray 4-0, striking in the 4th, 44th and 80th minutes. Despite Galatasaray enjoying the majority of possession and doubling their opponents’ shot count, Trabzonspor were clinical, converting every one of their four efforts on target.
Around Europe
- Christian Eriksen has left Wolfsburg by mutual consent, having not played since collapsing on the pitch for Denmark during a summer international friendly.
- Roberto Mancini has returned for a second spell as Italy head coach as the Azzurri look to rebuild after missing the last three World Cups.
- Inter Milan fought back from two goals down through a Lautaro Martinez double to draw 2-2 at Serie A leaders Roma.
- Juventus thrashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in their Europa League opener, with Nick Woltemade among the scorers.
- Germany boss Jurgen Klopp named a 45-man squad split across two international windows in his first squad selection since taking charge.
- England defender John Stones will miss the upcoming Nations League fixtures with a thigh injury sustained in Inter Milan’s win over Udinese.
Quick Facts
- Harry Kane scored 73 goals for club and country in 2025/26 and broke the record for the fastest 100 Bundesliga goals.
- Bayern Munich are weighing a potential £60million January move for Barcelona’s Dani Olmo.
- Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid after Dean Huijsen’s red card, dropping to third in La Liga.
- Barcelona remain unbeaten in La Liga after Raphinha’s hat-trick sealed a 3-1 win over Sevilla.
- Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4-0.
- The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be presented in London on October 26.
Fans across Kenya and East Africa can keep up with all the latest La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 action live on DStv SuperSport as the European season continues to heat up.
