REPORTS NAME KAHN AS BALON D'OR WINNER

Marca, the Spanish daily sports newspaper, claim that Kahn will win the prize after helping the Bundesliga aces to a glittering array of awards.

Last season, Bayern won the Champions League, beating Valencia on penalties, in a shoot-out where Kahn was the hero.  So far this term, they appear well on course to repeating as Bundesliga champions, whilst also winning the Intercontinental Cup against Boca and on the international stage, Germany will appear once again in the World Cup finals after beating Ukraine in the play-offs.

Kahn has played a major part in all of these achievements and the 32-year-old would become only the second ever keeper to take the title, joining Russian legend Lev Yashin who won the award in 1963.

Liverpool's Michael Owen and Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez have been heavily tipped to feature prominently when the winner is announced, in France Football's December 18 edition.