Harry Kane enters a defining week of his career with the World Cup and Ballon d'Or within reach. The England captain must outshine Lionel Messi in Atlanta and then overcome Kylian Mbappé or Lamine Yamal to claim the sport's highest individual honour.
Kane's season of excellence
The Bayern Munich striker has enjoyed the season of his life, with domestic trophies and 73 goals in 64 appearances for club and country. However, the chance to lead England into a first World Cup final abroad requires him to outperform the greatest footballer of all time.
Kane has spoken about reaching the level of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Moving to Bayern in 2023 helped bring silverware, but international glory remains elusive. He is driven by a sense of destiny to right past disappointments.
Physical peak and longevity
Kane feels better than ever physically at this tournament. He looks at Messi, still going strong at 39, and wonders if he can do the same. It is easy to imagine Kane still leading the line for England at the next World Cup at age 36.
“That’s why you do all the work behind the scenes,” Kane said after rescuing England with two goals against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Those guys, Messi and Ronaldo, are at the pinnacle of that.”
Big-game performances needed
Yet immaculate physical regime alone won't make Kane an all-time great outside England. Big-game performances are required. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, is clutch: he scored in Champions League finals, el clasico, and was inspirational in Argentina's 2022 World Cup win.
Kane is not short of big moments. He scored a hat-trick for Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final, and delivered in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. For England, he saved Thomas Tuchel's job with goals against the DRC and has scored in the last 16 in five consecutive tournaments.
Past struggles and resilience
Yet it is difficult to keep producing. Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup but tired in the latter stages, spurning a big chance in the semi-final defeat to Croatia. He was criticised early at Euro 2020 but responded with crucial knockout goals, only to stumble in the final loss to Italy.
The last World Cup was painful: Kane scored one penalty but missed another when England lost their quarter-final to France. Fitness troubles at Euro 2024 saw him taken off in the 61st minute of the final defeat to Spain.
Bounce back at this World Cup
Kane has bounced back and returned even stronger. He has been one of the stars of this World Cup, scoring six goals in six games. He delivered against Mexico, creating Jude Bellingham's second goal and scoring the winner from the spot.
While not at his best in the quarter-final win over Norway – the heat and humidity in Miami affected him – he worked hard and was still on the pitch at the end of extra-time. Even so, a competitor like Kane will not feel that saving England in a last-32 tie against the DRC has done enough for his legacy.
Key match against Argentina
Kane will play in more favourable conditions in the Atlanta Stadium, with its roof and air conditioning. He has the craft, strength and height to outwit Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez in Argentina's defence. It will be a battle against two streetwise centre-backs, but England will be in business if Kane wins it.
