Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

Hundred for Harry? Here’s How the Road Looks Like for Kane

Kane is already England’s top scorer with 66 goals

England’s match against Finland in the ongoing UEFA Nation’s League will be Harry Kane’s 100th international cap for the Three Legends. Ahead of the game, the Bayern Munich forward has expressed his dream of achieving 100 international goals, emulating the record of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker said, “It’s possible, it’s there. What is it, 34 goals? These 100 caps have come round so quickly, especially the last few years playing three major tournaments in such a short space of time. The goals were similar, I felt I was on 30 goals, and then, bam… I went to 50 and 60. It is definitely there and definitely possible. I feel like I am in a good place, and these are good targets to try to reach. Some people may see them as unrealistic, but I would rather go for something unrealistic and not quite make it rather than be comfortable just saying I will be happy with 70 or 80 goals.”

Where is Harry Kane?

Time is definitely on Harry Kane’s side, who currently is aged 31, so another five years is definitely on the cards for Kane in case an injury or fitness derails his career. In 99 matches, Harry Kane has scored 66 goals, which means he has maintained a goal ratio of around 1.5 since his debut in 2015.

A route that must be followed

Harry Kane has done consistently over the last two seasons. In 2022/2023, major international competitions for England and Kane included World Cup Qualification Europe and the World Cup. In the two stages, Kane played a total of 13 games. In the Qualification round, Kane scored 12 goals, whereas in the World Cup, Kane added two, taking the tally to 14 goals.

So far in 2024, Kane has played eight UEFA European Championship Qualification matches and seven European Championship games, scoring 11 goals. Not to forget, he scored three goals in the UEFA Euro 2024. Kane is yet to open his account in the UEFA Nations League. However, given Kane is only 34 goals away from 100, he could reach the milestone in less than four years if he keeps up his present form.

Goal-match ratio comparison

When it comes to the top international goal scorers, Ronaldo tops the chart with 132 goals in 214 appearances, which is equivalent to 1.6 goals per match, whereas Messi stands at 108 goals in 187 matches with a goals per match of 1.7. With a goal ratio of 1.5, Harry Kane is well within the reach of his newly-set milestone.

Pointing to the examples of Messi, Ronaldo, and NFL legend Tom Brady, Kane feels that such targets should be made more realistic because, unlike earlier days, players across sports are working hard to have a more prolonged career going into their 40s and, despite their age, stay at the top of the game.