Harry Kane is still coming to terms with the shock of England’s World Cup exit following their semi-final defeat to Argentina. After the stunning 2-1 loss, the 32-year-old England captain may take some time before deciding his future with the national team.
But in the very man who shattered his World Cup dream on Wednesday night, Kane has found a new source of inspiration — one that suggests the 2026 World Cup may not be his last.
The way Lionel Messi, at 39, guided Argentina to their second consecutive World Cup final has left a deep impression on Kane. The Argentina captain currently leads the race for the Golden Boot with 8 goals and 4 assists at this World Cup. Though he didn’t score against England himself, Messi set up both of Argentina’s goals through his teammates to secure the win.
Reflecting on Messi’s remarkable performance, Kane said, “You can see just how great Leo [Messi] still is on the world stage. So I don’t want to put any limits on my own career. It’s too early to talk about the future — as a person, I’ve always preferred to take things year by year.”
Kane played a key role in England’s run to this year’s World Cup semi-final, scoring six goals and providing one assist over the course of the tournament.
Although operating as a striker, Kane was frequently seen dropping deep to help build attacks. His excellent pass was instrumental in setting up Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal against Argentina, which had given England the lead.
Despite finding the net against DR Congo and Mexico during the group and knockout stages, Kane was unable to score against Norway in the quarter-finals or Argentina in the semi-finals.
Kane previously won the Golden Boot with 6 goals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Since then, following disappointments in 2022 and now 2026, the World Cup trophy continues to elude both Kane and England.
Speaking about representing his country, Kane said plainly, “It’s my pride and absolute joy. I love playing for my country more than anything else.”
That deep love for the England shirt could well carry Kane to a fourth World Cup in 2030. Fans, however, will have to wait a little longer to find out whether that possibility becomes reality.
