Harry Kane Reacts To Lionel Messi Comparison After England Heroics He And Ronaldo Are The Pinnacle
Hindustan Times
The VAR denied Harry Kane what looked like a clear penalty, but the momentary frustration only seemed to fire him up in England's FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash against DR Congo.
Trailing 1-0 after a sluggish start, England struggled to find their rhythm before the hydration break. But they emerged a transformed side afterwards, with Kane leading the comeback through a match-winning brace.
The brace not only extended Kane's record as England men's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, but also took him to five goals in the tournament—just one behind joint Golden Boot leaders Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
His display earned glowing praise from teammate Anthony Gordon, who compared Kane's current level to that of Messi.
"It's amazing to be around him every day because when you're around someone at the elite level, he's at the very, very top of football. He's having a season that's only ever been beaten by Leo Messi, the greatest footballer of all time. So that speaks to the level he's playing at," Gordon said.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Kane was informed about Gordon's comments. The England captain, however, preferred to turn the spotlight towards the two modern greats who continue to inspire him.
"Those guys, Messi and Ronaldo, are at the pinnacle of that. I feel as well as I've ever felt, and when I step onto the pitch, I know all the work I've done behind the scenes prepares me for moments like these. That's exactly what happened today."