Harry Kane, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to make his 100th appearance for England, becoming the 10th Englishman to reach the milestone. Kane has drawn motivation from Ronaldo since the start of his career and continues to look up to the Portuguese forward almost two decades later.
Reflecting on Ronaldo's recent performances, Kane said, "Just watching Ronaldo score his 901st goal yesterday, seeing him compete at 38, 39 years old, it just inspires me to play as long as possible." Kane will achieve his century of caps in the upcoming Nations League match against Finland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Kane, England’s all-time leading goal scorer with 66 goals, will be honored with a gold cap before kickoff. The Bayern Munich striker will become the first English player since Wayne Rooney in 2014 to reach 100 caps. At 31, Kane is regarded as one of the world's top strikers and could surpass Peter Shilton’s record of 125 international appearances for England.
While Ronaldo's career statistics are unparalleled—132 goals for Portugal in 213 appearances, both men's international records—Kane sees Ronaldo's longevity as a benchmark. "It motivates me to know I have many more years ahead at the highest level," Kane said. He added that Ronaldo’s "hunger, desire, and determination" continue to drive him as he progresses in his own career.
Kane believes his versatility on the field, including the ability to play as a No. 10, could extend his career. "I think to have that hunger, desire, and determination, almost a sense of keeping wanting to prove people wrong, prove to yourself that you can be the best you can be," Kane said. "Then whenever the day comes when you stop playing, you can be proud of what you've done."
Kane credited his renewed energy to playing under Bayern Munich's new coach, Vincent Kompany, who advocates for a high-intensity style. He also noted that Lee Carsley, the interim England coach, employs a similar strategy, as demonstrated in the team’s recent 2-0 win over Ireland. "It's all about intensity," Kane said. "Football in general is becoming more and more that type of style where you have a lot of man-to-man pressure and one-vs.-one battles on the pitch, and it's something you have to be able to cope with."
Kane debuted for England in March 2015, scoring just 79 seconds after coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 victory over Lithuania. Since then, he has played more games in major tournaments (28) and more competitive matches (83) than any other male player for England. As of Tuesday's match, Kane will captain the national team for the 73rd time.
"I feel in really good shape. I feel physically and mentally at a peak in my career," Kane said ahead of the milestone match. "I love representing England more than anything, and I don't want it to end anytime soon. For me, it's about continuing to improve and being consistent, both in an England shirt and at club level." Kane remains motivated to accumulate more caps and goals for his country, saying, "I am hungry for more."Set to reach 100 England caps, Harry Kane reflects on Cristiano Ronaldo's influence and how his versatility as a No. 10 could extend his playing career.
