Former England striker Gary Lineker has named Harry Kane the best footballer England has ever produced, praising the captain’s all-around game beyond just his goal-scoring achievements. Speaking from New York shortly after England’s 2-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup round of 32, Lineker highlighted Kane’s skill set as unparalleled in English football history.
Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for England, compared Kane to some of the nation’s all-time greats, including Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, and Geoff Hurst. While acknowledging that he had limited exposure to some of those players, Lineker emphasized that his judgment was based on players he had seen regularly. “Harry’s record speaks for itself,” he said, noting that although the modern game involves more matches and a wider range of opponents, Kane’s quality extends beyond statistics. Lineker cited Kane’s ability to drop into space, hold possession, execute precise passing, and display clinical finishing in various situations, including one-on-ones and aerial challenges.
Lineker also noted the only potential shortfall in Kane’s repertoire as a lack of pace, suggesting that if Kane added speed to his array of talents, he could be considered on par with elite players like Kylian Mbappe. Reflecting on his own style, Lineker said Kane’s passing and shooting abilities outperform his own, adding that combining Lineker’s pace with Kane’s all-round skills would make for an exceptional player.
Despite his high praise, Lineker revealed that he has never met Kane in person, only interviewing him briefly for television. “I’ve never actually met him, which surprises a lot of people,” Lineker said.
Since retiring from professional football, Lineker has become a prominent television presenter, notably hosting the BBC’s Match of the Day for over 25 years. He is currently hosting a daily World Cup program, The Rest is Football, for Netflix from a studio in Times Square, New York. Lineker described the tournament atmosphere as electric, with packed stadiums and enthusiastic international fans, calling it a “joyous” event. However, he criticized the high prices of World Cup tickets, questioning why a tournament run by a supposedly non-profit organization like FIFA would charge sums that he likened to financing a second mortgage.
Lineker also offered his assessment of the World Cup’s standout players beyond Kane, highlighting Lionel Messi’s continuing dominance despite advancing age. “Nobody does what Messi does. He’s remarkable for his age,” Lineker said, adding that while Messi’s speed has declined, his ability to control a match remains extraordinary.
Looking ahead to England’s upcoming round of 16 match against Mexico at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, a venue famous for Diego Maradona’s 1986 “Hand of God” goal, Lineker remained optimistic about England’s prospects in the tournament.