Harry Kane has been one of Europe’s best goalscorers for years and has won the top scorer award time and time again. But his career had one major flaw – and it continues.
When the final whistle blew in the European Championship final, Spain’s celebrations knew no bounds. Twelve years after their last European title, the Iberians were once again the kings of Europe – and with their fourth title, they were also record European champions. Mikel Oyarzabal hit the Three Lions right in the heart with his goal to make it 2-1 shortly before the end. And the loss in the final will hit one player particularly hard: Harry Kane.
The 30-year-old has been one of the best strikers in Europe for years. He scored 213 goals in the Premier League for his hometown club Tottenham Hotspurs – a record for the north London club and the second-best figure in league history behind legendary striker Alan Shearer. He was also the league’s top scorer three times.
After his 100 million euro move to FC Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, Kane hit the ground running in the Bundesliga: the Englishman scored 36 goals in his first season and was the top scorer by a clear margin. But he didn’t win a title in his first season in the Bundesliga, and Kane never won a title in England either.
European Championship final: Harry Kane loses another final
The 30-year-old has now lost six finals. With Tottenham, Kane lost in the final of the Carabao Cup, one of the English cup competitions, first in 2015 against Chelsea (0-2), then in 2021 against Manchester City (0-1). With the Hotspurs, Kane also lost the all-English Champions League final in 2019 against Liverpool, coached by Jürgen Klopp, 0-2. In his first appearance for Bayern, things didn’t work out for Kane either – in the Supercup they lost 3-0 to RB Leipzig. The start of the German serial champions’ first titleless season since the 2011/2012 season.
But things are just not going well at national team level either. In the final of the 2021 European Championship, the English lost to Italy at Wembley Stadium. Although Kane scored in the penalty shootout, the English missed out on winning the title because three players lost their nerve.
He didn’t even win a title with Bayern
And in the 2024 final, the striker remained almost invisible thanks to the British style of play that was staid throughout the tournament. Kane only touched the ball 13 times before he was substituted in the 60th minute. In addition, only 50 percent of the passes reached his teammates. The most striking scene besides the substitution: his only foul, for which the captain was rightly cautioned. “It’s not easy to get to these finals. You have to take it when it comes, and we didn’t do it again. That will hurt for a long time,” Kane explained after the final.
Kane’s suffering continues, but he will soon be able to make a fresh start in Munich. After the disappointing season, Bayern have made a big splash in the transfer market. Maybe things will work out for Kane in 2025 – and he can finally hold a trophy in his hands.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
