HARRY KANE SCORES 72 GOALS IN 2025-26 SEASON, SECOND ONLY TO MESSI

England captain Harry Kane has declared himself in the prime of his career following a season in which he scored 72 goals across club and country. Kane's recent performances included a brace against DR Congo in the 86th minute, securing a 2-1 victory and advancing England to a World Cup last-16 match against Mexico. According to Kane's own account, his goal tally this season exceeds his previous career high by approximately 20 goals.

Kane spent the majority of the season at Bayern Munich, where he netted 61 goals and helped the club retain the Bundesliga title and win the DFK-Pokal. His 72-goal total places him second in a single-season ranking behind Lionel Messi's 82 goals in the 2011-12 campaign. Speaking on the Lion's Den podcast, Kane attributed his success to a combination of physical fitness, opportunity and timing, stating that "a mixture of everything coming together at the right time" had enabled his performance.

Anthony Gordon, who provided assists for both of Kane's goals against DR Congo, praised his captain as England's finest player. Gordon remarked that Kane's season had been "only been beaten by Messi", describing the achievement as "outrageous" given Messi's status as the sport's most decorated player. Kane indicated his focus remained on the upcoming matches, stating he wanted "the next game to be there" as fixtures continued at pace.