The World Cup and Harry Kane
There’s a lot of talent at this summer’s World Cup, but if you’re on the lookout for an exceptional goalscorer to follow, you should definitely pay attention to England’s Harry Kane.
Kane has a bit of an awkward appearance—tall, very British, and maybe even with a mildly open mouth—but don’t let that fool you. Few players in soccer are as adept at finding the back of the net.
How Kane Changed the Game
Honestly, it’s been ages since England has had a player quite like Harry Kane. He came out of Tottenham Hotspur’s academy back in 2014, almost fully formed, which was just what Tottenham needed at that time. Honestly, he faced some struggles early on but eventually made his way into the Premier League.
Tim Sherwood, a former Spurs caretaker manager, likes to think he was responsible for Kane’s rise—Kane scored on his first-team debut and just kept going. Yet, it was really under Mauricio Pochettino that Kane reached new heights, becoming the team’s talisman and leading scorer for nine seasons straight, eventually breaking the club’s goal record that was previously held by Jimmy Greaves.
Kane is that classic striker type—big and strong, and he can finish brilliantly. But he also has an eye for a pass and does a great job supporting his teammates. His off-the-ball movements are superb. Notably, he developed an impressive partnership with Son Heung-min, with both players often assisting each other and nearly leading Spurs to the Premier League title.
Then he made the switch to Bayern Munich, which, to say the least, left Spurs fans feeling quite sad and frustrated.
But it was a smart move. He joined the best team in the Bundesliga and, with a talented squad around him, made a significant impact in Germany. This season alone, he has netted 36 goals and provided five assists, which is, well, quite impressive—17 more goals than anyone else chasing him. Over three years with Bayern, he scored 146 goals, making him the seventh highest on their all-time scorers list. He’s also a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or, and many would argue he truly deserves it.
As he’s matured, Kane has started to drop deeper to get the ball, taking on more of an attacking midfielder role rather than just a traditional goalscorer. He’s very much a complete player, happy to set up teammates when the opportunity arises. Still, when he’s in front of the goal, he’s lethal, a superb finisher, and reliable on penalties. Plus, he can head the ball well. Opponents at the World Cup might try to minimize his influence, but that won’t be easy.
Kane at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Even though Kane is an elite striker and one of the best finishers out there, England manager Thomas Tuchel included him in his World Cup squad, hinting at a more defensive strategy. It’s a little different from the attacking style we’ve seen from Bayern this season, but there’s a focus on strong set pieces, which has been a hallmark in the Premier League.
This could signal that, unless Kane manages to score from corner kicks (which he’s quite capable of), he might not get the same scoring opportunities that he had with Bayern. England does have other attacking threats, like Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford from Barcelona, but Kane’s talent is undeniably special.
If Kane doesn’t finish as the top scorer at this summer’s World Cup, it won’t be due to his efforts—it will be because the team didn’t support him as they should have.
