Harry Kane: Special, saviour, England's greatest and Ballon D'Or contender

Harry Kane single-handedly put England through to the World Cup last 16 with two goals against DR Congo; the England captain struck with 75th and 86th-minute strikes as the Three Lions came from behind to win

>Yes, England have issues. They put you through the mill, they're struggling for a right-back. But one problem they don't have is having a world-class matchwinner in their team.

>Where would England be without Harry Kane? Time and time again England fall behind in big games - it was the sixth consecutive knockout match at a major tournament in which the Three Lions have conceded the opening goal. Time and time they look for a hero.

>After a poor Euro 2024 where he was obviously struggling with a back injury, Kane is king again. God save him.

>Kane was not alone in rescuing England against the DR Congo. Anthony Gordon got two assists off the bench, Jude Bellingham's running kept the attacking machine alive, Declan Rice's right-back cameo provided its moments.

>But in firing his second goal from just inside the box high into the roof of the net, a goal that caught a nation - and goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi by surprise - Kane confirmed he has something that nobody else in the team can do.

>"It's what we expect from him!" said Thomas Tuchel. "It's what he expects from himself.

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>"Difficult matches, close matches - Harry's here to decide them. Top level."

>That was Kane's 13th World Cup goal which sees him overtake Pele in the all-time charts. Kane is England's Pele - the best to ever do it.

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>And alongside him in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot are the best to ever do it in world football.

>Lionel Messi. Erling Haaland. Kylian Mbappe. Ousmane Dembele. Vinicius Jr. All of them are Ballon D'Or worthy - and Kane has now entered that conversation.

>His two strikes against Congo took him to five in this World Cup - 72 for club and country in a phenomenal season.

>But this was a very different game that Kane isn't used to. Normally so involved in the game as a player who likes to drop deep, Kane was rather anonymous for most of this game.

>In the first 35 minutes of the game, he had just five touches of the ball. His first shot came after 34 minutes - and only had two before he struck with the match-winning double.

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>And yet, he still provided those magic moments. Even in the first half, when England were toiling, he still ran through to earn a penalty shout for England - which would have surely been given on another day.

>Having very few touches but still delivering is very Haaland. How many times has the Man City and Norway striker barely been involved but still got over the line? The number is not known - but the most recent time was this week, when he did it for Norway against Ivory Coast.

>The difference is that Haaland is in the prime of his career, while Kane is showing he is still performing at that level as he turns 33.

>And despite all the games and the goals, he looks the freshest of his career - one that can go right until the very end. "I'm feeling as good as I have ever felt," said Kane.

>This is a special player - one who has defined an entire generation in England. How many special England moments from your lives is Kane responsible for?

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>"If you're saying England's greatest ever player. Bobby Charlton and a few others are in there," said Gary Neville.

>"When you say striker, 100 per cent. That's putting him above unbelievable players like Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, Jimmy Greaves. He's the best."

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>Only making it a golden summer via World Cup glory would get Kane the Ballon D'Or, but if their captain is available - England have every chance.

>"These are the experiences that give you genuine belief," added Tuchel after beating Congo. The England manager was talking about his team getting over the line. But really, he should be talking about Kane.

>He holds the key to World Cup glory. Given Mexico will cause more angst in the altitude of the Azteca, these England players will look towards Kane again.