Is Harry Kane the best No.9 of his generation? Bayern Munich star ranked against Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez & Sergio Aguero as England captain is backed to emulate Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo

England captain Kane is very much in that discussion after becoming the all-time leading scorer for Tottenham and the Three Lions. He hit 280 goals for Spurs and has 69 for his country. Remarkable individual standards are currently being maintained at German giants Bayern Munich.

Kane is competing with several other legendary forwards for the tile of ‘best No.9’ – with Karim Benzema another to enter that conversation – and ex-Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm, speaking in association with 888sport, told GOAL when asked where his former team-mate stands: "On that list, for me, the only thing that separates those players are the trophies.

"Lewandowski and Harry are more the same type of player than Aguero and Suarez. For me he is a top three striker of all-time in Europe. There’s not even a doubt. Maybe I am a bit biased because I played with him and I know him, but he is such a great finisher. Lewandowski is more his type than Suarez. Aguero obviously retired a bit earlier. He was a top striker as well. For me, Harry is top three."

Kane has reached the very top of the game as a result of his relentless pursuit of perfection, which could be likened to the mindset shared by all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Vorm said of how Kane got to this point: "I obviously didn’t train with Messi or Ronaldo but, from my own experience, I was around 30 years old when I joined Spurs – quite experienced – and I could tell straight away when I worked with Harry that he was different from the rest. His work ethic was unbelievable and he has a very clear goal for himself, where he wants to be. Working on, for example, his finishing and his mentality was, and still is, unbelievable.

"I think for the kids nowadays, you could see that there are a lot of talented players doing all kinds of tricks, but the work ethic and mentality, for me, is bigger than the talent. Harry showed that from the moment that I worked with him until today. Otherwise, you can’t keep on doing what he is doing for so many years in a row."

Kane is now 31 years of age, but is being backed to follow the lead of Messi and Ronaldo by playing towards his 40s. Vorm added: "One hundred per cent. The quality he has is very specific and he’s looking after himself so well. Maybe some people forget but during his last period at Tottenham, sometimes he drops back. He had a lot of assists that season. He can play very well, he’s not just a No.9. There is so much more in him. If you understand football you will have seen that over the years.

"Now, he’s very specific and just a No.9 and scoring goals. If he is looking after himself, because he had some injuries in the past with his ankle, the last few years he has been fitter than ever and if he can maintain it, why not?"

Kane, who is still searching for the first piece of major silverware in his record-breaking career, is tied to a contract at Bayern through to the summer of 2027. There is the potential for him at that stage to emulate Messi and Ronaldo again by heading to either MLS or the Saudi Pro League.