World Cup 2026: Is this Harry Kane time for England and the Ballon d’Or?

The final act of Harry Kane’s best season is to be available for an unfinished job as England’s World Cup captain.

Kane is England’s ‘Mr Irreplaceable’ – as proved when Thomas Tuchel’s side lost their teeth Draw with Uruguay and then Defeated by Japan March friendlies at Wembley.

The 32-year-old’s fitness will be Tuchel’s biggest concern as they prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign in Dallas on 17 June, not only as England’s all-time record goalscorer with 78 goals in 112 games, but they have no one remotely close to Kane’s class.

England’s hopes will rise if Kane continues his impressive form this season, scoring 64 goals in 56 games for Bayern Munich.

If not, the opposite applies.

Former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: “If Harry Kane announces his international retirement this afternoon, everyone will take a very pessimistic view of England’s World Cup chances.”

After barren years at Tottenham Hotspur, silverware was late in Kane’s career, with even his impressive goalscoring numbers failing to bring him glory.

He made up for lost time with Bayern Munich by winning the Bundesliga for the second time in a row and then scored a hat-trick. He beat Stuttgart 3-0 In the German cup final.

And Kane now plans to deliver the biggest prize of all when he leads England in their bid to end the men’s run of success that stretches back to their 1966 World Cup triumph.

England continue their countdown to their opening World Cup when they take on New Zealand in a friendly at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday (21:00 BST).

Kane has suffered back-to-back European Championship finals defeats to England in Italy and Spain, as well as World Cup semi-final defeats in 2018 to Croatia and Qatar’s quarter-final loss to France.

Now Kane’s stellar form and fitness suggests it may be time for England and their greats to overcome the hurdles 60 years of illness have brought.