England striker Harry Kane has been praised by teammate Jude Bellingham as the greatest player to have ever represented the national team, following Kane’s achievement of equalling Peter Shilton’s record for most England appearances. Kane reached 125 caps during England’s 3-0 victory over Czechia in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday, where he also contributed two goals and an assist.
Kane, 33, now has 91 international goals to his name and is expected to surpass Shilton’s record as the sole men’s appearance leader in November. Bellingham, who plays alongside Kane for England and Real Madrid, acknowledged the striker’s dedication and influence on and off the pitch.
“Nothing he ever does surprises me anymore,” Bellingham said. “He is an amazing role model, a great human being, and I’m honoured to share the pitch with him. Everything he achieves is well deserved through hard work and honesty.”
The 23-year-old midfielder described Kane’s milestone not just as a personal success but as a testament to his professionalism and leadership. “For me, he is the greatest player that has ever played for England,” Bellingham added. “You learn from him every day.”
Bellingham himself has been enjoying a strong run of form, highlighted by his performances at the recent World Cup and continued into this international camp. England’s current front line features a potent combination with Kane joined by Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and emerging talent Morgan Rogers. Together, they have helped England secure three wins during the recent international fixtures, including home and away victories against Czechia and a commanding 6-0 result against Croatia, with an overall aggregate score of 12-0. Their competitive 3-2 loss to Spain also demonstrated the team’s growing capability.
This latest international gathering involved a four-game camp, which has faced some criticism regarding its length and impact. However, Bellingham welcomed the extended time together, emphasizing the benefits of increased team cohesion.
“With a longer camp, we have more opportunity to gel and bond,” he explained. “When there are only two games, it’s harder to find a rhythm before splitting up again.”
England now look to build on this promising period of form as they prepare for upcoming fixtures under manager Gareth Southgate’s continued leadership.