Harry Kane feels underappreciated despite his record-breaking goals, aims for the Ballon d’Or, and remains hungry for success with England and Bayern.
England has long relied on its prolific striker Harry Kane yet the 31-year-old believes his extraordinary goal record is not always appreciated as it should be.
The Three Lions' all-time top scorer, with 69 international goals, is preparing to lead England in their World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley, marking the start of new head coach Thomas Tuchel's tenure.
Kane’s form for club and country remains formidable, having netted an incredible 76 goals in 82 appearances for Bayern Munich.
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However, despite his impressive statistics, the English captain has faced criticism, particularly in the German media, regarding his performances in the Bundesliga.
As Kane continues to prove his worth on the international stage, he has voiced his frustration over the lack of recognition for his consistent goal-scoring achievements.
"It's like when [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi were throwing these crazy numbers out there and the next season they'd score 40 goals instead of 50. It was like they were having a bad season," Kane said in an interview with BBC.
"People take it for granted and maybe a little bit with England as well. I've scored 69 goals and when you score against Albania or Latvia, or these teams, people just expect it so it's not spoken about so much," he added.
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The Bayern Munich forward believes age also plays a role in the perception of his achievements. Having broken into the England senior squad in 2015 and enjoyed nearly a decade of dominance, he feels that fans and media have become accustomed to his goal-scoring exploits.
"If I was 25 now and doing what I'm doing, the excitement around me would maybe be a little bit different to what it is now. That's part of where we are with football. I've seen it with some other players as they get into their 30s," Kane reflected.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker is no stranger to high expectations and comparisons with some of football’s greatest players. Yet, despite his undeniable quality, he has yet to claim individual accolades like the Ballon d’Or.
Michael Owen remains the last English player to win the prestigious award in 2001, but Kane believes that his move to Bayern Munich in 2023 has boosted his chances of securing the title.
"Just being at a club like Bayern Munich has helped push me on even more, confidence-wise and responsibility-wise," he explained.
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The England captain insists he has improved since arriving in Germany, benefiting from playing at one of Europe’s most successful clubs and competing on the biggest stages.
"I feel like I've definitely got better, I've improved, and maybe the 'aura' of me as a player is a bit more respected than what it has been in the past, because you're playing in big games, big nights," he said.
Kane understands that individual honors are closely linked to team success, acknowledging that he would need to win major trophies to be a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.
"I felt that last season as well, I scored over 40 goals, but obviously, I was never going to win the Ballon d'Or because we didn't win the team trophies," he admitted.
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With Bayern Munich competing for domestic and European silverware, Kane sees a clear path toward achieving his dream of being recognized as the world’s best player.
"For something like that, you have to win enough team trophies to be considered in that and probably score 40-odd goals, but that is a possibility this season. That is definitely something I would love to try to achieve," he concluded.
The road ahead presents Kane with a golden opportunity to cement his legacy.
Whether it is leading England in the World Cup qualifiers or striving for silverware with Bayern Munich, Kane remains focused on proving his doubters wrong—one goal at a time.