England captain Harry Kane has expressed renewed motivation to claim the Golden Boot at the ongoing World Cup, citing the strong starts made by rivals Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland as key factors driving his pursuit. Kane, who previously won the tournament’s top scorer award in 2018, is aiming to become the first player in history to achieve the feat twice.

Following impressive performances in the opening matches—Mbappe and Haaland each scored two goals—Kane matched their efforts by netting a brace in England’s recent game against Croatia. The Bayern Munich striker’s first-half double not only helped his team’s performance but also brought him level with Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England.

“I saw the guys scoring their goals,” Kane said, acknowledging the competitive atmosphere. “I don’t like to concentrate on other people, but it is natural as a sportsman and athlete to want to reach the highest level. Those guys started in a great way.”

Kane emphasized that the competition among top scorers encourages him to elevate his performance. “As a striker, I just want to get on the scoresheet as quickly as possible. That competition helps me to push my levels. That is what the World Cup is for, to push myself at the highest level,” he added.

While Lionel Messi also made headlines by scoring a hat-trick for Argentina in their victory over Algeria, Kane identified Mbappe and Haaland as his main contenders for the Golden Boot given their early goal-scoring momentum.

Reflecting on reaching the milestone of 10 World Cup goals, Kane described it as “very special,” paying tribute to Lineker’s legacy, who achieved his tally across several outstanding World Cup campaigns. Kane also noted that he feels he is “at the peak of my powers at the right time,” signaling his confidence as the tournament progresses.

As the World Cup advances, the race for the Golden Boot remains closely contested among these prolific forwards, each demonstrating their capacity to influence games and drive their teams forward on football’s biggest stage.