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Following the excitement of his Ballon d'Or victory on Monday, Harry Kane was swiftly brought back to reality on what he called a "strange" evening. There were far less flattering words that could describe his error-prone performance for Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund.
Kane became the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to claim the Ballon d'Or, narrowly edging out World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé for the honor.
While his competitors campaigned as though they were politicians eager to win votes, Kane took a more low-key approach. True to the Englishman's modest nature, he avoided diminishing his rivals' accomplishments and trusted that his remarkable season for club and country would speak for itself.
Kane wasn't just the most productive goalscorer in Europe; he cemented himself as one of only two players this century to net at least 70 goals across club and international football in a single season. Eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient Lionel Messi is the other.
• How Tom Brady Inspired Harry Kane to the Ballon d'Or
He was a deserving winner who should serve as motivation for many, given his path to the pinnacle of football. A career long ridiculed for falling just short is now on the verge of being remarkably fulfilled.
His club, Bayern Munich, offered little in the way of support in the buildup, with German football traditionally focused on the collective and reluctant to celebrate individual stars. A Ballon d'Or would do little to change Kane's standing in Bavaria, where the Englishman is valued for how he contributes to the team rather than the trophies he accumulates along the way.
As a result, many supporters left the Allianz Arena disappointed by what their No. 9 delivered in Der Klassiker.
Kane Falls Flat on Bayern Munich's Biggest Night
Kane was given a hero's reception at Säbener Straße following Monday's ceremony, and had certainly been savoring his achievement right up until Borussia Dortmund's arrival on Saturday evening.
Kane walked into the Allianz Arena with his gleaming new prize in hand, as players from both sides applauded. He showcased his award to a packed crowd, telling those present that he is "extremely proud to be a Bayern Munich player." Ultimately, it was Kane's bold move to Germany that propelled him to such an elevated status.
Everything was in place for another Kane masterclass, but the newly-crowned world's best player instead endured an unfamiliar night in front of goal as Bayern managed to drop two points against their fiercest domestic rivals.
Kane struck the woodwork twice from prime positions, including from the penalty spot — just the 16th miss of his career and the fourth as a Bayern player. He made amends by setting up Dayot Upamecano for the go-ahead goal in the second half, but was unable to add to the home side's lead thereafter.
The forward struck the post with the goal wide open, and Fábio Silva ultimately made the Englishman pay. Silva leveled for Dortmund in the dying minutes, leaving both sides tied at the top of the Bundesliga with 18 points.
Kane finished the night with a match-high six shots, none of which were on target. He also completed just 54% of his passes — certainly not among his better outings.
How Kane Reacted to Klassiker Performance
The occasion was uncharacteristic of Kane, and of Bayern as well. While the club has every right to honor one of their own for what Kane accomplished, it simply isn't in their nature to celebrate an individual with such fanfare and spectacle.
However, that isn't exactly why Kane described Saturday's Klassiker as "strange."
Speaking to Bulinews.com in the mixed zone following the 2–2 draw, the Ballon d'Or holder said: "Today probably wasn't my best performance or the team's best performance, but that's just life. It's part of being a striker and a footballer."
The 33-year-old has had a relatively sluggish start to his Bundesliga campaign, with his wasteful display against Dortmund leaving him with just four goals in eight league outings so far. Kane has scored 10 in 13 across all competitions, including four in three Champions League matches.
"I could have been out there [playing] for another hour today, and the ball wouldn't have hit the back of the net. You have to take that on the chin sometimes," he added.
"It was a strange night all round. We have to see how the injuries are [to Bayern players]. A couple [of the injuries to Bayern teammates] didn't look so good."
The club has since confirmed that Ismael Saibari has undergone successful ankle surgery, ruling him out for the foreseeable future. Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise were also forced to leave the pitch during Der Klassiker.
A challenging away fixture in the Spanish capital awaits Bayern, with Atlético Madrid on the horizon in Matchday 4 of the league phase this week.