Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland's Goals Motivated Me, Admits Kane

England captain Harry Kane admitted he was spurred on by the strong start of his rivals for the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot – Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. The Bayern Munich striker responded in kind, netting two goals in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia.

“Yes, of course, I saw the lads’ goals yesterday. Generally, I don’t pay too much attention to what others are doing. But I think it’s normal as an athlete to try and reach the highest possible level. Obviously, all those guys started in a fantastic way. I, on the other hand, waited a long time just to play my match. We had to wait six days for it. So, we were all eagerly anticipating getting out on the pitch. I think as a striker, it’s normal to want to score as soon as possible. I believe, deep down, this competition helps me elevate my game. That’s what the World Cup is for: the best players performing at the highest level. So, it’s definitely pleasing to have scored two goals today,” stated Kane, who was named Player of the Match.

Messi bagged the tournament's only hat-trick so far in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, while Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, much like Kane, each scored two goals in their opening matches. The Frenchman found the net against Senegal, and the Norwegian scored against Iraq.