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FWC on Sport Nation guideMartin Tyler: Why Kane is England's greatest ever striker
Jaiden Sciberras • July 2nd, 2026 7:00 pm
Is Harry Kane England’s greatest ever number nine?
Legendary football commentator Martin Tyler certainly thinks so.
Taking on DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, England found themselves a goal down from the seventh minute - In stepped Kane, firing home and equaliser in the 75th minute before burying a superb goal in the 86th to fire ahead ahead and confirm England’s place in the Round of 16.
Extending his record to an astonishing 84 goals in 118 appearances with the national team, Kane now finds himself well and truly atop England’s all-time goalscorers, 31 goals clear of second-placed Wayne Rooney in two less appearances.
Bagging five goals within this year’s tournament so far, Kane also eclipsed Gary Lineker as England’s top goalscorer in World Cup history with 13 across three World Cups, moving into equal sixth above the likes of Brazil’s Pelé and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
With that in mind, the Martin Tyler believes that the man from East London tops the charts as England’s greatest striker to ever grace the game.
“I was asked on British television before the game about that very question, and before the game, I said he is the greatest striker England has ever had,” Tyler said on SEN Whateley.
“I go back a long way to maybe when things weren’t quite (the same)… what Harry has had is great pitches to play on, where defenders can no longer kick the strikers up in the air which they used to do back in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, maybe even the 80’s.
“The lawmakers have protected him maybe a little. But, taking all that to one side – and he has scored in his goals, quite a lot of penalties – not all of the strikers have taken the penalties on the England list.
“But his record is astonishing. In all competitions he has 72 goals, he has got assists for club and country… It is amazing. To do it when the pressure is really on (is incredible).
“The second goal, the ability to get the shot away – it took a wonderful goalkeeper by surprise and won England the game.”
Harry Kane’s incredible career goes well beyond his national team records; in this season alone, the 32-year-old scored 64 goals at club level for Bayern Munich in just 56 games, finishing with at least 24 goals at club level in every season across both Bayern and Tottenham since 2013/14.
“He lives with the pressure really well,” Tyler continued.
“Maybe the pressure at Tottenham got to him a little bit at the end, which is why he left for Germany, and now they’re talking about going to Barcelona quite late in his career.
“Why would you not want to have Barcelona on your CV! There has never been any controversy or anything like that.
“He is a sport-loving man, and he is a sportsman. It’s a credit to himself and a credit to his country, and without him, they would have been out of the World Cup.”
England will now face Mexico in the Azteca in the Round of 16, marking The Three Lions’ first appearance in the esteemed stadium since Diego Maradona buried them with the ‘Hand of God’ in 1986.
Listen to Martin Tyler's full interview with Adam White:
