Harry Kane has equalled his 2018 tally with six goals at the 2026 World Cup. The striker, now 33, continues to defy expectations and cement his legacy as England's greatest goalscorer. Those who worked with him in his formative years recall a determination and self-belief that set him apart, even when his talent did not immediately stand out.
From Goalkeeper to Striker
On his first day at Ridgeway Rovers, his first club, coach Dave Bricknell asked if anyone wanted to go in goal. A six-year-old Kane raised his hand and performed well. 'I thought I'd found a goalkeeper,' Bricknell says. 'At that age, you don't get many kids that don't mind standing in front of a ball.' Parents quickly pointed out that Kane was even better on the pitch. However, this was not the only time Kane nearly pursued goalkeeping. He was scouted by Arsenal, where he also trained with goalkeeper coach Alex Welsh alongside outfield sessions.
Resilience and Rejection
Kane's resilience was evident early on. After Arsenal let him go, he returned to Ridgeway Rovers undeterred. He was later scouted by Tottenham Hotspur's Mark O'Toole but released again. After scoring against Spurs during a brief spell at Watford, Tottenham brought him back. 'The best thing I could ever say about Harry is his resilience,' Bricknell says. 'He didn't really care if he missed because he knew another chance would come along, which has held him in great stead.' His parents provided stability, keeping him grounded through years of loans at Spurs.
Under-20 World Cup and Early Doubts
During his loan period, Kane was called up to England's under-20s by Peter Taylor for the World Cup in Turkey. Taylor noticed Kane's finishing technique and ability to score with few chances. However, Taylor did not predict his trajectory: 'If you'd asked me if he was going to go back from that tournament and all of a sudden get into Spurs's first team and have the career he's had, I would've said: I hope he does, because you couldn't meet a nicer boy, but probably not. He's put his heart and soul into his career.'
At the tournament, Kane displayed his sense of humour. Taylor arranged a golf putting competition; while others wore training gear, Kane arrived in full golf attire with hat and gloves. 'He's come down as if he's going to play the Open,' Taylor says. England finished bottom of their group, but Kane remained quietly confident. 'He was confident. It wasn't a case of football owes me a living; it was: I'm gonna work me socks off to have one,' Taylor recalls.
Breakthrough at Tottenham
In the 2013-14 season, Kane was given a run in the Spurs first team by Tim Sherwood, ending with four goals. The following season under Mauricio Pochettino, he exploded: 31 goals in 51 games, including 21 in the league. In 2016, he won the first of three Premier League Golden Boots. Initially, Kane and Pochettino failed to click. Pochettino found a frustrated striker wary of another manager prioritising signings over academy prospects. Pochettino wanted a modern forward pressing from the front; Kane had an old-school style. Pochettino was hard on him, insisting he work harder and improve his fitness. Kane listened, buying a second house near the training ground to be first in and last out. 'I believe Harry Kane is the best player in the world in terms of mental strength, willpower and endeavour,' Pochettino wrote in 2017.
International Success and Leadership
Gareth Southgate built England teams around Kane, reaching heights not achieved for decades. Southgate introduced striker coach Allan Russell in 2017. 'Harry had a quiet, powerful, strong aura about him,' Russell says. 'Over the years, it turned into a self-assurance that he just cannot be nudged off track, whatever happens.' Russell notes that Kane is not a 'nice guy' but a 'good guy' who is ruthless. 'Is he a nice guy? No. He's a good guy. Nice guys get taken advantage of, seem to be a little bit softer. He's mastered that fine line.'
World Cup 2026 and Beyond
Kane has six goals at the 2026 World Cup, equalling his 2018 tally. He overtook Gary Lineker as England's top scorer at World Cups, surpassing Pelé in the process. Russell texted Kane after he scored twice against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kane replied: 'Thanks Al, I know you'll enjoy that second finish.' Russell says Kane now manages his energy levels better and is at his prime. 'Now he is older and wiser. He manages his energy levels better in games. He manages triggers on when to press. He manages when he comes deep. You're probably seeing him at his prime.' Asked if Kane will play at another World Cup, Russell says: 'I wouldn't put it past him.'
