Harry Kane: England's Greatest International Contender

Harry Kane will write another chapter in his illustrious England history by equalling Peter Shilton's record tally of 125 caps if he plays a part in the UEFA Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic at Wembley. England's captain is already his country’s record scorer, with 89 goals in 124 appearances in a full international career that began by opening his account 79 seconds into his debut.

Since that 4-0 win against Lithuania at Wembley in March 2015, Kane has been England's mainstay. He remains irreplaceable at 33, being their top scorer in major tournaments with 21 goals in 36 appearances across six of those events, ahead of Gary Lineker’s 10 goals in 18 appearances. Kane is building a monument to his goalscoring brilliance at elite level, standing 36 goals ahead of England's second-highest scorer, Wayne Rooney, who boasts a record of 53 goals in 120 games.

Kane is unquestionably England men's most important and influential player of the modern era. The only blemish on his career is the failure to add to the one men’s World Cup won in 1966. How highly Kane ranks in the pantheon of greats who have represented the England men’s team remains a question. He has made himself a serious contender.

The conversation about Kane also brings up other legends such as Bobby Moore, the only England captain to lift the World Cup in 1966, and Sir Bobby Charlton, who became one of England’s most famous footballers after surviving the Munich Air Disaster. While some may argue for Moore, Charlton, or others like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, Kane's records draw admiration.

Danny Murphy stated, "Kane is England’s greatest goalscorer. No one can take that away from him. He has maintained an incredible level over many years, which deserves the utmost acclaim. His professionalism reflects his ability."

Paul Robinson noted that while past captains like Moore and Charlton left lasting legacies, it is important to recognize the context of modern football, asserting, "Kane is an England great. There is no argument. He’ll always be part of the conversation."

Kane's tally of 11 goals in 12 games for England in 2023 and his five hat-tricks in 110 starts illustrate his sustained excellence. His absence is felt whenever a conversation arises around injury worries in the team, emphasizing his class as irreplaceable in that position.

However, Kane's lack of a major international trophy will always present an argument against claims of him being England’s greatest. He has narrowly missed out in two World Cup semi-finals and two European Championship finals, with the next Euros in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2028 being a potential last chance to claim a major title.