England captain Harry Kane says seeing rivals Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland make flying starts at the World Cup is driving him on in the bid to win the Golden Boot.
Kane is looking to become the first man in history to finish as top scorer twice after first accomplishing the feat in 2018.
Twenty-four hours after watching Mbappe and Haaland both bag braces in their opening matches, the Bayern Munich striker followed suit with a double in England’s 4-2 Group L opener against Croatia on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi also scored a hat-trick for Argentina in their win over Algeria, but the Frenchman and Norway’s star man are Kane’s biggest Golden Boot competition.
“Obviously I saw the guys scoring their goals,” he said. “I don’t like to concentrate on other people, but it is natural as a sportsman and athlete to want to reach the highest level.
“Those guys started in a great way.
“As a striker myself, I just want to get on the scoresheet as quickly as possible.
“In the back of my mind that competition helps me to push my levels. That is what the World Cup is for, to push myself at the highest level, so it is nice to get a couple.”
Kane’s first-half brace in Dallas saw him equal Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England, with surely plenty more to come.
His fast start at the World Cup comes on the back of a record-breaking season for Bayern Munich, where he scored 61 goals in 51 games, and he says he is at the “peak of his powers”.
“It’s a great milestone to reach, to get 10 goals at a World Cup,” he added. “Gary had some amazing tournaments and to be on that number now is really enjoyable.
“To reach double figures at this amazing tournament is very special.
“Physically, I am feeling food. The goals I have scored this year are the most I have ever had in my career, I feel I am at the peak of my powers at the right time.
“There is a long way to go, a lot of tough games ahead, but for me personally I enjoy being out there on the pitch when I am feeling in this form.
“Recover now and get ready for the next game.”
