England captain Harry Kane reveals that he draws inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless goal-scoring as he prepares to earn his 100th cap.
At 31 years old, Kane will reach this milestone in a Nations League match against Finland on Tuesday night at Wembley. Despite facing criticism for his performances during the summer Euros, the Bayern Munich striker believes Ronaldo, who netted his 901st career goal at 39 against Scotland, demonstrates that Kane can continue to play and score at a high level for years to come.
“I feel great, both physically and mentally, at the peak of my career,” Kane stated. “Seeing Ronaldo score his 901st goal at 39 inspires me to play for as long as I can. I love representing England more than anything, and I don’t want that to end soon.”
He added, “It’s about continuing to improve and stay consistent. Who knows how many caps or goals I can achieve? I’m eager for more.”
When asked about Ronaldo’s influence, Kane said, “Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were my idols growing up; they were in their prime during my teenage years. Both inspired me. Having that hunger, determination, and the drive to prove people wrong is essential to being your best.”
“I draw motivation from various players. Scoring over 900 goals in a career is an incredible achievement, and playing at his age is truly inspiring,” Kane said.
When a reporter noted that Ronaldo remains a striker rather than transitioning to a deeper role as he ages, Kane expressed confidence in his ability to adapt to any role required of him.
“It depends on the circumstances, the managers, and the systems in place,” Kane explained. “I can play both high up or drop deep. My all-around game allows me to be effective in different areas.”
He continued, “For me, it’s about improving at Bayern with the new coach. There’s a lot of high-intensity pressing and pressure situations without the ball, which is helping my development. Football is increasingly focused on that style, with man-for-man pressure, so it’s essential to adapt.”
Kane will become the 10th player in history to reach 100 caps for England, the first since Wayne Rooney a decade ago.
Peter Shilton, the only goalkeeper on the list, holds the record with 125 caps, while Rooney follows closely behind with 120. Notable players including David Beckham (115), Steven Gerrard (114), and World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore (108) also feature among the centurions. Other players who have reached this milestone include Ashley Cole, Sir Bobby Charlton, Frank Lampard, and Billy Wright.
Kane has captained England 72 times and has played 81 matches under Gareth Southgate, alongside 16 under Roy Hodgson, and one each under Sam Allardyce and current interim coach Lee Carsley.
