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The captain of the Three Lions has earned global recognition through relentless effort — and it is that determination that has shaped him into the footballer he is today.

Jose Mourinho once sat down with Harry Kane in the manager’s office at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground and pointed out the difference between them. At the time, Kane was just 26, the reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner, considered a top-class striker but not yet a global superstar. A consistent goal-scorer for both club and country, but little more in the eyes of the world.

“I have no doubt: you are a winner,” Mourinho told him on his second day in charge of Spurs.

However, Mourinho also remarked that “the movie stars of football belong to other places,” implying that Kane was not yet among the elite. In his typically self-referential style, Mourinho added, “my dimension is universal.”

“We have to build your status in that direction,” he said. Over the next six years, Kane did exactly that — not through external help, but through sheer persistence, continual refinement, and the kind of consistent excellence required to remain at the summit of professional football.

Today, while Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise — Kane’s teammate at Bayern Munich — continue to shine for France, the England captain has made a strong case for being the best footballer in the world, right in the heart of this FIFA World Cup.

The numbers speak for themselves. Statistics are objective, clear, and reliable — much like Kane himself. His decisive brace against DR Congo, which rescued England on Wednesday, took his tally to 72 goals in 62 matches for club and country this season. That incredible consistency has seen him surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s best-ever season. Kane’s current campaign now ranks as the second-highest goalscoring season in football history, behind only Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in 69 games during 2011-12.

In that 2019 discussion with Mourinho, Kane had mentioned his ambition to emulate Messi and Ronaldo. He now has 84 goals for England — equalling the legendary Ferenc Puskas’s record for Hungary — and has overtaken Pele in World Cup goals by scoring his 13th. Those 13 goals have come in just 15 games, a faster pace than Messi, Ronaldo, or Pele managed.

Yet, it took Kane until last summer’s Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich to claim his first career trophy — one of football’s most baffling statistical oddities. After two European Championship finals, a World Cup semi-final, a quarter-final, and two Golden Boots in major tournaments, his sights are set firmly on silverware with England. For him, team success outweighs individual honours.

His stunning strike against DR Congo — a powerful swivel and shot into the roof of the net — not only saved England but also stood as one of the most beautiful goals of his career. It was one of those rare moments when artistry and necessity collided. Many now consider it among the greatest goals England have scored in World Cup history.

Kane’s first club silverware came only after joining Bayern Munich. Reflecting on his form after the pre-tournament win over New Zealand, he said: “Physically and mentally it’s the best shape I’ve been in, in my career.” The difference is clear — his performances this summer contrast sharply with Euro 2024, when injury hampered him. Despite calls for his replacement by Ollie Watkins back then, he still managed to win the Golden Boot.

That consistency is Kane’s defining trait. Turning 33 later this month, he continues to improve, combining intelligence and technical mastery with his natural finishing ability. His range of passing and tactical awareness have elevated him further still.

During Euro 2020, when he failed to score in England’s first two matches, many questioned his place in the side. Now, such suggestions would be met with ridicule. His legacy as England’s greatest-ever player — alongside legends like Sir Bobby Charlton — is cemented.

Kane stands apart as the rare England star whose influence has increased with experience. While Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle, Frank Lampard, and David Beckham all saw their international impact wane over time, Kane’s has only grown.

There is a stronger argument than ever that Kane is now the best player in the world. He sits at the perfect intersection of physical prowess and tactical intelligence. Once the dominant force at Tottenham, his 2023 move to Bayern Munich took him to another level — not only a better player but one who is now universally admired.

In May, Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness called Kane the greatest signing in the club’s history. Kane justified the praise by scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory in the DFB Pokal final, ending the club’s six-year wait for the trophy. Bayern initially hoped he would match Robert Lewandowski’s influence; instead, he has exceeded all expectations.

Critics who question the strength of the Bundesliga forget that Kane spent a decade scoring prolifically in the Premier League, becoming its second-highest scorer ever. Bayern fans now appreciate the multifaceted player Tottenham and England supporters always knew — a complete forward whose intelligence and versatility make him invaluable.

For years, debate surrounded whether Kane should drop deep or remain in the box. His precise passing and vision have convinced Mourinho, Gareth Southgate, Vincent Kompany, and Thomas Tuchel alike that he should be free to express himself.

Kane’s mastery is the result of hard practice rather than innate flair. Four lower-league loan spells helped forge his resilience. His meticulous repetition in training has made him a penalty expert and one of the most technically gifted finishers in modern football.

Back in 2014, at age 21, Kane impressed in pre-season but was told by then-manager Mauricio Pochettino that his body fat percentage was the highest in the squad. Pochettino’s challenge — “You can be the best striker in the world” — became the mantra that drove Kane to fulfil his potential.

England’s World Cup hopes now rest heavily on Kane’s shoulders. Though Tuchel can rely on Jude Bellingham for key moments, Kane remains the pivotal figure — much as he was for Spurs, famously labelled “the Harry Kane team” by Pep Guardiola.

His teammates speak glowingly about him. Declan Rice called playing with Kane “an honour”, while Ollie Watkins admitted, “I can’t emulate what he does. The way he plays the game is very unique.” Anthony Gordon, who assisted both of Kane’s goals against DR Congo, summarised it best: “Anyone at this level can score great goals. It’s his consistency that makes him different. He’s having a season that has only ever been beaten by the greatest footballer of all time.”

“It’s no accident,” Gordon added. “It’s his dedication every single day in training. He never lets up.”

When Kane rose above three DR Congo defenders to head in England’s equaliser in Atlanta, Eberechi Eze could already be seen smiling behind him — he knew what was coming. As Kane’s winning strike hit the net, Bellingham collapsed to his knees in sheer relief.

Whether or not Kane wins the Ballon d’Or later this year remains to be seen. Some argue the award has become a popularity contest, but few would deny he deserves recognition. Even if England fall short of the title, Kane’s legacy is secure. For Tottenham, Bayern, and England alike, he has always been the indispensable figure around whom everything revolves.

Mbappe, Olise, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi have all performed brilliantly in this World Cup. But none are as integral to their teams as Kane is to England. The established stars may dominate the spotlight, but Kane has earned his place among them — the leading man, in his distinctly English way.