Harry Kane told why he isn’t ‘outstanding’ despite goal record – with ex-Arsenal & Bayern Munich star assessing striker’s bid to match Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi numbers

England captain Kane has maintained impressive standards since leaving Premier League side Tottenham and trying his luck in the Bundesliga. Major silverware has remained elusive, but the 31-year-old has registered 64 goals for Bayern through as many appearances.

He has also become the all-time leading scorer for his country, with a reputation as one of the most fearsome No.9s in world football being enhanced. Kane has, however, faced criticism from some for supposedly going missing in big matches.

Former Arsenal and Bayern forward Lukas Podolski is impressed with Kane’s output, but has told talkSPORT of why he is not the complete player like Messi and Ronaldo: “I think not only this season but last season he scored like 40 goals, so don't always give such a high target to players. We are used to having Ronaldo and Messi, who scored like 70, 80 goals per season, so now if you score 30 or 40 it's not enough anymore.

“I think [Kane] is one of the greatest strikers in our history, he scores goals, but maybe he's not that guy who is outstanding with his performances. But he's there to score goals, he's always in the box, he always smells something.”

Podolski, who spent three years with Bayern between 2006 and 2009, added on the German giants having a habit of finding prolific frontmen: “Bayern have always had top strikers, [Robert] Lewandowski before and now Kane. He's continued what he was doing at Tottenham and for the national team.”

Kane is nursing an injury at present, which is preventing him from adding to his impressive goal tally, but he will certainly be back for more in 2025 – with club and country – as he looks to land a first collective honour of his otherwise distinguished career.