Harry Kane reveals Wayne Rooney inspiration on way to smashing England records and explains how missing penalty on Tottenham debut 'helped define me'

Harry Kane has revealed how Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney served as inspiration before going on to break England records of his own.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
Rooney, who is the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer, raised the bar of goal-getting brilliance for the Three Lions when passing World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton. He became the first man to reach a half-century of efforts for England, finishing on 53 through 120 appearances.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
Kane has since surged beyond that mark, taking his tally to 69 from 103 caps. He is now captain of his country and showing no sign of slowing down at 31 years of age – with a stunning strike rate being maintained at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
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WHAT HARRY KANE SAID
Kane has told Soccer Bible of making history and the legacy that he will leave behind: "It’s hard to fully process while I’m still playing. I remember watching Wayne Rooney break the England goal-scoring record and thinking how incredible that must have felt for him.
"For me, it’s similar – it’s a huge honour, but I quickly shift my focus to the next game or the next milestone. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved, but my mindset is always about pushing further. Once I break a record, it’s about seeing how much further I can go, whether that’s with goals, caps, or anything else."

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DID YOU KNOW?
That mindset – which could be likened to all-time greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – has served Kane well throughout his career. He has never been one to dwell on the past, adding on the moments that have helped to shape his career: "There are plenty of moments that helped define me, both good and bad. My Tottenham debut, for example – I missed a penalty at White Hart Lane when I was 18. That could’ve been a big blow to my confidence, but it built resilience.
"Then there are moments like making my England debut at Wembley, coming on for Wayne Rooney, and scoring within minutes. Those are moments no one can take away from you, and they remind me of the hard work and discipline it took to get here."
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WHAT NEXT?
For all that he has achieved as an individual, including Golden Boots and PFA prizes, Kane is still waiting on a first major trophy. The expectation is that said duck will be broken in 2025, with Bayern very much in the hunt for Bundesliga and Champions League titles.

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