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Harry Kane is world class and maybe the world’s best

By Zac Wassink

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur at John Smith's Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur at John Smith's Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane must be recognized as world-class and as arguably the best striker in world football today.

Is Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane world-class? It’s a question one may not expect to encounter in October 2017 considering all that’s occurred over the past several years. The 24-year-old silenced critics who dared to claim he was a “one-season wonder” long ago, as he has two Premier League Golden Boots on his resume heading into his physical prime.

Nevertheless, individuals such as GQ‘s Lee Stobbs are touching upon the subject a couple of weeks into the fall months. Stobbs made multiple interesting points in a short post about Kane’s status, and he mentioned numerous stats that are probably familiar to passionate Tottenham supporters and those who actively follow the Premier League. By now, you shouldn’t need to see Kane’s numbers to appreciate all that he’s achieved as a member of the Spurs senior squad.

Why, then, do so many discount Kane’s overall quality? Perhaps some of this blatant disrespect has to do with the suggestion made by Stobbs and others that Kane being English somehow negatively affects his reputation. Kane isn’t a Ronaldo, a Messi, an Aguero or an Ibrahimovic. Waiting for a supposed English star to fail to live up to the hype has become such a tradition that some are failing to realize Kane has already exceeded all expectations had for him.

Arguably most impressive about Kane is his continued improvement even after it’s seemed as though he’s hit his ceiling. He’s conjuring memories of when Gareth Bale evolved from a dangerous attacker to one of the world’s top game-changers capable of rescuing points and winning matches with the stroke of his foot. Watch Kane’s second goal versus Huddersfield Town this past weekend, and then close your eyes and think of the tallies Bale notched during his final season in Tottenham Lilywhite:

https://twitter.com/si_soccer/status/914103679053070336

Outside of the penalty area, and with the ball on his alleged weaker foot. Kane isn’t supposed to score in that instance. The majority of strikers in the world don’t fire a rocket that lands in the back of the net without switching the ball to a desired foot before entering the box. That’s merely Kane’s latest magical goal that joins a plethora of highlight-reel moments he’s accumulated.

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Suggesting Kane isn’t recognized for what he is because he hasn’t yet hoisted a trophy is a take that’s as lazy as it is nonsensical. Clubs, not individuals, win titles. We didn’t need to see Luis Suarez put pen to paper on a deal with Barcelona to understand he was an elite and special talent worthy of featuring for the Spanish giants and a team capable of winning the Champions League.

Kane isn’t flashy. He doesn’t blow by defenders with blinding pace. He doesn’t soar through the air with NBA-esque leaping ability. He isn’t built like a tank, even if he is deceptively strong. He is a front man who is perfect for the Premier League because he does every little thing better than anybody else, which means he doesn’t have to be the best athlete on the pitch to score wonder-goals.

Kane completes intelligent runs at picture-perfect moments when defenders think he’s a step or two offside. His turns while inside the attacking third are moves you’d show to a young player learning his craft a decade before he ever receives an opportunity to feature on a major stage. His finishing is immaculate, so much so it’s now shocking when he doesn’t score each time he receives a chance inside the area.

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Kane still has plenty to achieve. Scoring a couple of goals against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu later this month would help erase any doubts about his greatness, even though no such questions should still exist. Rather than compare him to superstars routinely featured in advertising campaigns and on video-game covers, appreciate watching a footballer who is probably Tottenham’s best overall player of the Premier League era.

He somehow keeps getting better.

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