Pharaoh vs. King: Can Marmoush dethrone Kane?

>>> Will you go with Marmoush or Kane - or both - in Fantasy this weekend?

The title of Bundesliga Torschützenkönig, or top scorer, includes a storied list of some of the world's best attacking talent of all time: Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Miroslav Klose and, more recently, the competition's single-season record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski (41 goals). Last season a new name burst onto the scene.

Kane was, by a clear margin, the signing of the season. After swapping long-time home Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern last summer, the Bavarian giants' record signing hit the ground running and smashed home a league- and European-high 36 goals - including the Bundesliga's Goal of the Season! 

Watch: Every Kane goal in the Bundesliga

Not only did this haul mark the first time an Englishman has taken the coveted title of Torschützenkönig, it was the equal-fourth best goal tally in Bundesliga history, level with Müller's 1972/73 return and eclipsed only by Lewandowski and two other prolific campaigns from Der Bomber. Quite a debut!

Kane ended the season eight goals clear of nearest rival Serhou Guirassy (28) and 12 ahead of third-placed Loïs Openda, but this season it seems that in Frankfurt, there is a Pharaoh who has what it takes to rival the King.

Battle Royale

Last season, like Kane, Egypt international Omar Marmoush hit the ground running after a summer move, hitting 12 goals and six assists after switching from Wolfsburg. This campaign, he has followed up with an impressive early-season strike rate of six goals and three assists in just five matches.

With his two-goal, double assist haul in Frankfurt's 4-2 win at Holstein Kiel, Marmoush rocketed to the top of the scorers' chart, overtaking Kane, who was kept quiet in Bayern's 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, on five.

Midweek action saw Marmoush score away to Beşiktaş in the UEFA Europa Leauge too, coolly converting a spot kick in the 19th minute. With Bayern losing at Aston Villa and Kane once again unable to get on the score sheet, it could be argued that the challenger is coming into the weekend's fixture with greater momentum. 

Watch: Marmoush unstoppable in 4-2 win in Kiel

However, the two forwards are neck-and-neck in terms of total goal involvements, on nine apiece - six goals, three assists for Marmoush and five goals, four assists for Kane - which suggests that Bundesliga fans could be in for a real treat as the two aces battle it out taking - and making - goals this season.

Contrasting styles...

Which isn't to suggest that Kane and Marmoush do things the same way. For Marmoush, a centre-forward by trade but often fielded in wide positions, the watchword is speed. The 25-year-old may sport a 183cm frame, but he has been clocked at over 35 km/h on numerous occasions and is always ready to take on defenders, drawing comparisons with Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramarić. So far this season, the Eygptian has racked up the league's fourth-highest number of sprints (146), winning 54% of his duels and drawing a joint-league high 15 fouls. 

Watch: All of Omar Marmoush's Bundesliga goals

>>> Take a more in-depth look at what Marmoush is about

Classic No.9 Kane, on the other hand, relies more on positioning, strength and a cultured first touch - not to mention prowess from the penalty spot - to threaten the opposition's goal. The 31-year-old also has wealth of experience to draw on - 213 goals in 317 Premier League appearances for Tottenham, 68 goals in a century of outings for England - and his unfaltering nerve and presence of mind make him a reliable fixed point at the top of Bayern coach Vincent Kompany's attack.

...similar results

That said, both players excel in terms of their efficiency in front of goal. With 41 strikes in his first 37 Bundesliga matches (between last season and the current campaign), Kane broke Uwe Seeler's almost 60-year-old record for goals out of the gate while also capitalising on 70% of his big chances (26 out of 37). In 2024/25, the Englishman duly boasts the best shot efficiency at Bayern (+1.8) - he only needed 17 shots to score his five goals - as well as the highest xGoals rating in Kompany's talent-stacked squad (3.2).

Watch: Harry Kane hits a hat-trick against Kiel

Meanwhile, current Bundesliga top scorer Marmoush has set a new Frankfurt record by scoring six times over the first five matchdays, and duly boasts the league's second-highest xGoals rating (4.5, only behind VfB Stuttgart's Enzo Millot on 4.7). With a league-high 25 shots on goal and a total of 37 shot involvements, the Egyptian has a clearly attacking agenda every time he takes the field.

Drive

Indeed, after enjoying a breakout season in 2023/24 following his move from Wolfsburg to Frankfurt, and inspired by compatriot Mo Salah, Marmoush is hungry to back that performance up with an even better return this time out.

"[Salah] managed to become one of the three best players the world," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "That inspires me and it's something I also want to achieve."

However, the man who reportedly drew the interest of several clubs abroad over the summer is far from an individualist.

"We can achieve something big with Eintracht Frankfurt, but we must be careful and take it step by step," he tempered. "If there is a 30 percent chance that I will score a goal and my teammate has a better chance and is in a better position, then I will pass the ball so that we can score a goal as a team, not just Omar."

Watch: High-Flying Eagles - Fantastic Frankfurt

Kane: "Get those trophies back"

Meanwhile Kane is being driven by slightly different forces at Bayern where, despite the striker's record-breaking season, it was an uncharacteristically silverware-free season.

"I think it was a really good season," the Englishman told bundesliga.com. "I scored more goals than I have before in any other league campaign and I managed some good assists as well. However, there was a feeling of not winning the Bundesliga or any cups that has left me - and I think the team - hungry this term to be successful and get those trophies back."

And so it seems we have all the ingredients - style, pedigree, heart, skills and hunger - for a thrilling contest when Frankfurt play host to Bayern on Matchday 6. Marmoush bagged a goal and two assists as Frankfurt shocked Bayern 5-1 in their first meeting last season, while Kane replied with a double in the reverse fixture. Which hit-man will come out on top - or will they both shine? Answers at Deutsche Bank Park this weekend...