Harry Kane handed Cristiano Ronaldo warning by England manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of 2026 World Cup

Three Lions captain Kane, who will turn 32 in July, has stated that he wants to prolong his playing career for as long as possible. Many are considering that to be a nod towards treading the same path as five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.

CR7, who is ready to extend his contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, is still winning Golden Boots at club level and major international honours with his country - having just helped Portugal to Nations League glory.

Kane is showing no sign of slowing down either, having registered the 450th goal of his career in England’s battling 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra, but Tuchel says the Bayern Munich striker - along with many other players - will find it tough to maintain the form and fitness required to follow in Ronaldo’s record-shattering footsteps.

Tuchel told reporters: “I think it gets more and more difficult in today's game, Cristiano took a step into a league which is not as competitive as the Premier League or Spain - where he played before - as part of keeping his performance up. I think he is always the exception to the rule, we cannot go now from Cristiano Ronaldo and think everyone can play until 39 and 40 in today’s game.

“It will be very demanding, professionalism is a given in today’s game, otherwise you have no chance and Harry has this natural ability to score goals.

“He scored his 450th goal in the Andorra match, it was a very decisive goal, a very important one and there are at the moment no signs he cannot do it at a high level. How long he can do it, I have not a crystal ball, let’s see. He is in a club where they play dominant football, I think that can suit him.

“Just the outlook until the World Cup, he knows that it is a crucial year for him, also in terms of fitness and being ready to compete in the World Cup in the heat, in the humidity.”

England have been readying their players for potentially testing conditions in North America next summer, as they see their performance monitored by special pills after working in heated tents, and Tuchel added on the challenges that Kane and Co will face: “There is no concern about Harry. There is no concern, but we need to give it thought - like how much age influences how you react to the heat.”

Kane will be turning out in the United States this summer, with Bayern’s talismanic No.9 set to link up with the Bundesliga champions for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup duty after England have faced Senegal at the City Ground in Nottingham on Tuesday.