[PERSON_NAME] is the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or. Having spent the past week talking to key figures at Bayern Munich – as well as [PERSON_NAME] himself – it is apparent that clinching this award is as important to the German club as it is the [ADDRESS] captain. Speaking to [PERSON_NAME], Bayern's sporting director, just before their win over Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, he was emphatic: "I think he deserves to win the Ballon d'Or. He played an outstanding season." [PERSON_NAME], a member of Bayern's executive board, went further: "It can only be [PERSON_NAME]. We can just give it to [PERSON_NAME]." Bayern are pushing for this Ballon d'Or and – with a new deal on the table – want to be seen to be pushing for it.

Asking [PERSON_NAME] about that after the win in [ADDRESS], he recognises it too: "I feel the love from this club, I know how much they appreciate me. Not just my goals but I think my all-round game and also me as a person in the changing room as well, the whole package." [PERSON_NAME] has never ranked higher than 10th in the Ballon d'Or voting but this is his best chance yet. He finished well clear of rivals Erling Haaland and [PERSON_NAME] in winning the European Golden Shoe.

[PERSON_NAME] has all the facts: "Seventy-three goals in 64 games. A hat-trick in the cup final." It took just 78 matches for [PERSON_NAME] to score 100 Bundesliga goals – the shortest time in all the top five leagues in history. He scored six goals at the World Cup for [ADDRESS] too. "We think there is no way around him this year. When you just focus on statistics, there cannot be anybody else."