England captain Harry Kane has dismissed suggestions that the 2026 World Cup should be his international farewell, insisting that he is performing at the highest level of his career.
With Thomas Tuchel set to take over as England manager in January, the team's next matches will come during the March international break, which marks the start of World Cup qualifiers. Interim manager Lee Carsley, who guided England to promotion from the second tier of the Nations League, made the decision to bench Kane for last week's 3-0 win over Greece, a move that surprised the 31-year-old striker. However, Kane made an impact upon his return to the starting lineup, scoring in Sunday's 5-0 demolition of the Republic of Ireland.
Reflecting on his form, Kane admitted that at Euro 2024 last summer, he sometimes appeared fatigued and was substituted in all four knockout games as England reached the final. But the Bayern Munich forward has been in stellar form this season, netting 20 goals in 21 appearances for club and country.
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"I think there's this perception that once you hit your thirties, you're winding down, but for me, I'm performing at the highest level I've ever reached and feeling as good as I’ve ever felt," Kane said. "I don’t like to look too far ahead, but the World Cup in America will be an incredible occasion, and ultimately, it’s about trying to win it and continually looking at ways to improve."
Kane made the comments at the unveiling of a statue of him at his former youth team, Ridgeway Rovers, in east London. As England's all-time top scorer with 69 goals in 102 matches, Kane is also in line to surpass Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps.
However, Kane believes his true legacy will be tied to helping England secure a major tournament victory, something they have not achieved since 1966. He hopes to emulate World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore by one day being honored with a statue at Wembley.
Kane, who previously worked with Tuchel at Bayern Munich, is optimistic about the German manager’s impact when he takes charge. "We need to win a major tournament," Kane said. "We've come close a few times, and the next step is for us to get that victory. Tuchel has a lot of experience in big competitions, and I believe he’ll bring great energy and a fresh tactical approach to the team."
