The longest, strangest and most-discussed anomaly in football is over.
That space on Harry Kane’s CV, where the trophies ought to go, is empty no more. Bayern Munich are the 2024-25 Bundesliga champions and Kane has the medal he spent so long striving for.
The story of Kane’s career had, right up until this weekend, been one with an unusual footnote. For more than a decade, he has been one of the best strikers in football, developing and perfecting his game, achieving something close to mastery.
Advertisement
Kane, 31, has been one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation, chasing down every single target in front of him. Within a few weeks in spring 2023, he broke the all-time goalscoring records for Tottenham Hotspur and England.
His Spurs tally of 280 goals is 14 ahead of Jimmy Greaves. His England total of 71 is 18 ahead of Wayne Rooney’s tally. He could play for England for another five years, bring up his century, double Rooney’s tally, and it would still feel like he had left a few goals on the table.
Kane breaking Spurs’ all-time scoring record (Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)
Those numbers may prove Kane’s greatness, but they get nowhere near fully conveying it. More than just a line-leading No 9, he is a playmaking No 10, too; two brilliant players in one, combining football intelligence, vision, imagination, precision, improvisation, art, skill and deft touches.
And yet despite all that, as everyone knows, no trophies — or at least not until Sunday, when second-placed Leverkusen failed to beat Freiburg, guaranteeing Bayern the title.
You could argue he has won quite a few things. They do not just hand out the World Cup Golden Boot, for example, which he won for his six goals in Russia in 2018. Or the Premier League Golden Boot, which he has won three times. Or the European Golden Shoe, which he won after being Bundesliga top scorer in his first season at Bayern. Or any number of player of the month or player of the season awards.
But none of his teams have won a competition while he has been there. You could put that down to Kane spending the first 14 years of his senior career either out on loan or at Tottenham Hotspur, an aspirational rather than elite club, not one challenging for the big trophies every year.
Kane has come close, though, for Spurs and for England. He has not decided a final in the way he decides games every week, with critics assuming he lacks an edge when it matters most.
First, he had the 2015 League Cup final, which may have come too early in the development of Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs team, when a more experienced Chelsea side beat them.
He had the 2019 Champions League final, when he came straight back in from two months out with an ankle injury, and never looked like he could get a foothold as Liverpool won 2-0.
Advertisement
He had the 2021 League Cup final, too, when he was again back straight after an ankle injury. Manchester City edged a tight contest of few chances.
Bayer Leverkusen stormed to the Bundesliga title in his first season at Bayern Munich, another ‘failure’ added to the list.
Meanwhile, the story of Kane’s international career has been him helping drag England further than they have ever gone in the modern era, only to look so burdened by the end that he cannot complete the job alone. In Russia, Kane faded at the end of the tournament and was quiet when England lost the semi-final to Croatia.
At Euro 2020, Kane started slowly before coming alive in the knockouts. He scored a huge goal against Germany, two against Ukraine, and the winner in the semi-final against Denmark. But the final against Italy looked like another game too far.
At the Qatar World Cup, he is remembered more for the penalty that he missed against France, which could have taken the quarter-final to extra time, rather than the penalty he scored.
Harry Kane in the League Cup final in 2015 (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Perhaps it should not have been a surprise that the same thing happened at the Euros in Germany last year. He scored against Denmark, but never looked at his best in the group. He got the extra-time winner against Slovakia in the round of 16, and the equaliser in the semi-final against the Netherlands. These are achievements no other English player can compete with.
But what do his critics remember of Kane’s impact at Euro 2024? That he got taken off with England needing a goal in the quarter-final, semi-final and final. Seeing the board go up after an hour against Spain and showing his number must have been painful. In part because it denied him the chance to change this narrative.
It is deeply unfortunate for Kane that of the five finals he has played for club or country, the only one where he looked at his sharpest was the first, when he was still 21. In the other four, he never quite looked right. No one could reasonably blame Kane for having been injured before any of these games.
Advertisement
Some people will hold these moments against Kane, for club and country, ignoring how, in many cases, Spurs and England were only in these big games because of Kane himself.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it is that there is a relentlessness to Kane, a constant commitment to self-improvement, to winning. That took him to Bayern and, eventually, the Bundesliga title.
And with Kane still having years left at the top, who would bet against him correcting that other anomaly, by scoring in a final sometime soon?
(Top photo: Harry Kane at Bayern’s match on Saturday, the day before their title was guaranteed; Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Like the Jets before them, the Steelers are making win-now moves to secure Aaron Rodgers
On the doorstep of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were crystal clear about their quarterback situation. One way or another, additions — plural — were going to be made.“We go to camp with four quarterbacks,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, prior to the first day of the draft. “Right now we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two. I assure you we’ll have four when we get to [training camp in] Latrobe.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe draft has come and gone, with the sixth-round selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard adding to that room. This was an Aaron Rodgers move in a Steelers draft that was stacked with Aaron Rodgers moves. We’ll get to that in a second. First, the bottom line: Roughly five weeks out from the team’s mandatory attendance […]
Kinclův velký risk před bitvou v Edenu. Je to hloupost, tvrdí Muradov o jeho výpravě
Thajské prostředí je pro různé infekce jako stvořené. Kincl se na začátku roku zařadil mezi ty, kteří bojovali se stafylokokem (bakterie, která se vyskytuje na kůži). „Myslel jsem si, že to bude otázka pár dnů a jednoho balení antibiotik, ale situace se ukázala být složitější. Dlouho se nic nezlepšovalo, ruka byla celá oteklá. Chvílemi jsem měl strach. Největší obavy jsem měl z toho, že by se infekce dostala do krevního oběhu a rozšířila se po těle. Následky by mohly být hodně vážné. Naštěstí k tomu nedošlo,“ vyprávěl Kincl v lednu a dodal, že si odvezl také pět stehů a pořádnou díru v ruce.Vstříc přípravě na klíčovou bitvu proti Muradovovi, s nímž si to na fotbalovém stadionu v pražském Edenu rozdá o prozatímní pás šampiona střední váhy, znovu, navíc poměrně překvapivě, vyrazil do horkého prostředí Asie, kde teploty každý den přesahují třicet stupňů. „Neustále ze mě teče, pokaždé mám pod sebou louži,“ […]
Manchester United might have secured Champions League football but major challenges lie ahead
For Manchester United, the last five minutes of added time felt like an age. For Manchester City, time was ticking too quickly.At 2-2 and down to 10 players, United just needed to hang on to claim one point to secure Champions League qualification. City sought one more goal at Old Trafford to snatch the European prize from their rivals.AdvertisementIt was not pretty, but United got the job done, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in their seven-year existence.City fell short. Interim head coach Nick Cushing, coy about his future, had failed to achieve his top-three task.United’s desperation to get just one point showed. In the first half there was an intention to be forward-thinking, but they hardly played in the “full throttle” manner with which head coach Marc Skinner wanted them to attack this game. They lacked […]
Van Nistelrooy wants to stay as Leicester City manager. Is the feeling mutual?
Not many managers can survive a run of 17 defeats in 19 games, nine consecutive defeats at home without scoring a single goal or picking up just eight points from a possible 63.Add to that a single clean sheet, 49 goals conceded and 11 scored. Usually, such a run of statistics places the manager’s position in the untenable category. Typically, such poor performances will have the supporters of that club demanding a change.AdvertisementThat hasn’t been the case for Leicester City and Ruud van Nistelrooy.When relegation was looming, Leicester could have been tempted to make a second change of what has been a dire campaign, having sacked Steve Cooper after 12 games when he had 10 points on the board and the club was outside the relegation zone.The feeling may have been, ‘What’s the point?’ Relegation seemed a certainty anyway. They […]
Mentality, identity tweak and finding killer touch: How Nottingham Forest can get back to their best
Nottingham Forest head to Crystal Palace on Monday desperately needing a win to breathe fresh life into their Champions League aspirations.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost three of their last four Premier League outings, with home defeats to Everton and Brentford only made worse by flat, uninspired performances.AdvertisementNuno was able to name something close to his full-strength side against Brentford, but what followed was an uncharacteristically fragile defensive display in a 2-0 defeat.While Monday’s defeat prompted a panicked reaction on social media, it is still a remarkable season — and Forest can still achieve their Champions League dreams.They sit only three points off Chelsea (fifth) and Newcastle (fourth) ahead of their game in hand against Palace tonight. With just four matches games remaining, Nuno admitted his challenge is to get them back to what made them thrive over the last […]
2025 NBA playoffs schedule: Games today, times, complete bracket with full second-round schedule set
Getty Images The second round is set in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and action continues Monday with a pair of Game 1s: Celtics vs. Knicks in the East and Thunder vs. Nuggets in the West. Eight teams remain in the playoff bracket as the first round wrapped up Sunday night with the Warriors eliminating the Rockets with a Game 7 road win. The full schedule is set for the second round, which began on Sunday with the Pacers upsetting the Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series. The second round could run through Tuesday, May 20.The Warriors advanced to face the Timberwolves in the second round, setting up a rare No. 6 vs. No. 7 matchup. The East, meanwhile, saw its top four seeds all advance into the second round.The Thunder and reigning champion Celtics are both favored to reach the […]
Related
Like the Jets before them, the Steelers are making win-now moves to secure Aaron Rodgers
On the doorstep of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were crystal clear about their quarterback situation. One way or another, additions — plural — were going to be made.“We go to camp with four quarterbacks,” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said, prior to the first day of the draft. “Right now we have two on the roster. All options are on the table in how we acquire those last two. I assure you we’ll have four when we get to [training camp in] Latrobe.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe draft has come and gone, with the sixth-round selection of Ohio State’s Will Howard adding to that room. This was an Aaron Rodgers move in a Steelers draft that was stacked with Aaron Rodgers moves. We’ll get to that in a second. First, the bottom line: Roughly five weeks out from the team’s mandatory attendance […]
Kinclův velký risk před bitvou v Edenu. Je to hloupost, tvrdí Muradov o jeho výpravě
Thajské prostředí je pro různé infekce jako stvořené. Kincl se na začátku roku zařadil mezi ty, kteří bojovali se stafylokokem (bakterie, která se vyskytuje na kůži). „Myslel jsem si, že to bude otázka pár dnů a jednoho balení antibiotik, ale situace se ukázala být složitější. Dlouho se nic nezlepšovalo, ruka byla celá oteklá. Chvílemi jsem měl strach. Největší obavy jsem měl z toho, že by se infekce dostala do krevního oběhu a rozšířila se po těle. Následky by mohly být hodně vážné. Naštěstí k tomu nedošlo,“ vyprávěl Kincl v lednu a dodal, že si odvezl také pět stehů a pořádnou díru v ruce.Vstříc přípravě na klíčovou bitvu proti Muradovovi, s nímž si to na fotbalovém stadionu v pražském Edenu rozdá o prozatímní pás šampiona střední váhy, znovu, navíc poměrně překvapivě, vyrazil do horkého prostředí Asie, kde teploty každý den přesahují třicet stupňů. „Neustále ze mě teče, pokaždé mám pod sebou louži,“ […]
Manchester United might have secured Champions League football but major challenges lie ahead
For Manchester United, the last five minutes of added time felt like an age. For Manchester City, time was ticking too quickly.At 2-2 and down to 10 players, United just needed to hang on to claim one point to secure Champions League qualification. City sought one more goal at Old Trafford to snatch the European prize from their rivals.AdvertisementIt was not pretty, but United got the job done, qualifying for the Champions League for the second time in their seven-year existence.City fell short. Interim head coach Nick Cushing, coy about his future, had failed to achieve his top-three task.United’s desperation to get just one point showed. In the first half there was an intention to be forward-thinking, but they hardly played in the “full throttle” manner with which head coach Marc Skinner wanted them to attack this game. They lacked […]
Van Nistelrooy wants to stay as Leicester City manager. Is the feeling mutual?
Not many managers can survive a run of 17 defeats in 19 games, nine consecutive defeats at home without scoring a single goal or picking up just eight points from a possible 63.Add to that a single clean sheet, 49 goals conceded and 11 scored. Usually, such a run of statistics places the manager’s position in the untenable category. Typically, such poor performances will have the supporters of that club demanding a change.AdvertisementThat hasn’t been the case for Leicester City and Ruud van Nistelrooy.When relegation was looming, Leicester could have been tempted to make a second change of what has been a dire campaign, having sacked Steve Cooper after 12 games when he had 10 points on the board and the club was outside the relegation zone.The feeling may have been, ‘What’s the point?’ Relegation seemed a certainty anyway. They […]
Mentality, identity tweak and finding killer touch: How Nottingham Forest can get back to their best
Nottingham Forest head to Crystal Palace on Monday desperately needing a win to breathe fresh life into their Champions League aspirations.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have lost three of their last four Premier League outings, with home defeats to Everton and Brentford only made worse by flat, uninspired performances.AdvertisementNuno was able to name something close to his full-strength side against Brentford, but what followed was an uncharacteristically fragile defensive display in a 2-0 defeat.While Monday’s defeat prompted a panicked reaction on social media, it is still a remarkable season — and Forest can still achieve their Champions League dreams.They sit only three points off Chelsea (fifth) and Newcastle (fourth) ahead of their game in hand against Palace tonight. With just four matches games remaining, Nuno admitted his challenge is to get them back to what made them thrive over the last […]
2025 NBA playoffs schedule: Games today, times, complete bracket with full second-round schedule set
Getty Images The second round is set in the 2025 NBA playoffs, and action continues Monday with a pair of Game 1s: Celtics vs. Knicks in the East and Thunder vs. Nuggets in the West. Eight teams remain in the playoff bracket as the first round wrapped up Sunday night with the Warriors eliminating the Rockets with a Game 7 road win. The full schedule is set for the second round, which began on Sunday with the Pacers upsetting the Cavaliers in Game 1 of their series. The second round could run through Tuesday, May 20.The Warriors advanced to face the Timberwolves in the second round, setting up a rare No. 6 vs. No. 7 matchup. The East, meanwhile, saw its top four seeds all advance into the second round.The Thunder and reigning champion Celtics are both favored to reach the […]
Be the first to leave a comment