Harry Kane, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, is set to mark a significant milestone in his international career, earning his 100th cap for England. Kane, who has long admired Ronaldo, reflected on the Portuguese forward’s influence, particularly after watching Ronaldo score his 901st career goal at age 38.
“Just watching Ronaldo score his 901st goal yesterday, seeing him compete at 38, 39 years old, it just inspires me to play as long as possible,” Kane said on Monday. His comments come a day before he becomes the 10th Englishman to reach 100 international appearances.
Ahead of the Nations League match against Finland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, Kane, England’s captain and top scorer with 66 goals, will receive a gold cap to commemorate the achievement. The Bayern Munich forward will be the first England player to hit the 100-cap milestone since Wayne Rooney in 2014. At 31, Kane remains one of the most prolific strikers in global football and has his sights on surpassing Peter Shilton’s record of 125 appearances for the England team.
While Ronaldo’s numbers are unparalleled — he holds the world record for men’s international goals with 132 and has 213 caps for Portugal — Kane remains motivated by his example. Kane sees Ronaldo’s ability to perform at the top level into his late 30s as inspiration for his own career.
“It motivates me to know I have many more years ahead at the highest level,” Kane said. “I think to have that hunger, desire and determination, almost a sense of keeping wanting to prove people wrong, prove to yourself that you can be the best you can be.”
Kane, who has transitioned from a traditional forward to a deeper playmaker role, believes this versatility could extend his career. Currently playing under Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany, Kane says the high-intensity approach of his new club is rejuvenating him. He also noted the similarities with the style introduced by England’s interim coach, Lee Carsley, whose tenure began with a 2-0 victory against Ireland on Saturday.
“It’s all about intensity — football in general is becoming more and more that type of style where you have a lot of man-to-man pressure and one-vs.-one battles on the pitch,” Kane said. “It’s probably only going to get more physical and more tough as the years go on.”
Kane debuted for England in March 2015, scoring just 79 seconds after coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Lithuania. Since then, he has made more appearances in major tournament finals (28) and more competitive matches (83) than any other male English player. On Tuesday, Kane, wearing golden boots in training, will captain the England side for the 73rd time.
“I feel in really good shape. I feel physically and mentally at a peak in my career,” Kane said, emphasizing his desire to continue representing England at the highest level. “For me, it’s about continuing to improve and being consistent, both in an England shirt and at club level.”
Kane, who currently has 66 goals for England, remains focused on adding to his tally and extending his cap count as he continues to play a leading role for both club and country.
