Harry Kane has gone toe-to-toe with some of the greatest defenders in footballing history, including Virgil van Dijk and Sergio Ramos. However, he snubbed both icons when asked to name the toughest opponent he has come up against.
The England captain was presented with eight centre-backs that he has faced so far in his career: Van Dijk, Ramos, Gerard Pique, Antonio Rudiger, John Terry, Ruben Dias, Giorgio Chiellini, and Mats Hummels. Many might have thought that Liverpool defender Van Dijk would have got the nod, given their titanic efforts against one another in England over several years.
But Kane instead told Goal that Chelsea icon Terry was the toughest player he faced in his career, while also giving a telling insight into the two former Spain defenders.
"It was more difficult against Ramos than against Pique," Kane said. He also named Ramos over Van Dijk in glowing praise of the former Real Madrid skipper.
In the other half of the bracket, Terry got the nod over Dias and then Chiellini, reaching the final with Ramos.
The Bayern Munich forward deliberated heavily between his two finalists, saying: “That's difficult. It was difficult against both of them."
He ultimately chose Terry, however, despite facing his compatriot on only four occasions. Between 2014 and 2016, and Terry’s later retirement, Kane scored three goals and provided two assists. Though Tottenham claimed just one win.
Terry being Kane’s hardest opponent was a statement first brought up by the 31-year-old in 2022. On his Instagram Q&A, the England talisman said: “There are a few who have been the toughest I have faced in my career. Early on facing John Terry, [he was] just a really smart defender, knew where to put his body, knew how to stop my runs, so that was a great learning curve.”
Just a few months later, Terry aimed a brutal dig at Tottenham, claiming that Kane would never realise his ambition of winning major silverware if he remained at the club.
He told beIN SPORTS: “I think Harry Kane has got ambitions to go and win trophies – he’s clearly not going to do that at Tottenham is he?
“Let’s be honest. He’s not, clearly. Let’s be honest with ourselves. He’s one of the best strikers in the world. He wants to win trophies. He wants to play for the best and biggest teams.
“Spurs are not that, Spurs are not going to give him what he wants. He wants to finish his career with some trophies.”
Kane left Spurs for Bayern in 2023 and won his first crown this year, the Bundesliga title. However, he was left watching on from afar as Son Heung-min lifted the Europa League in Bilbao.