England are reaping the rewards of Harry Kane enjoying the best period of his career and his exploits for club and country are undoubtedly putting him in the conversation for the 2026 Ballon d'Or award. The former Tottenham Hotspur striker just can't stop scoring and continues to break records at Bayern Munich, where he finally got his hands on a long-awaited trophy.
Kane eclipsed Wayne Rooney as the Three Lions' all-time top scorer back in February 2023, and the country will be pinning their hopes on the 32-year-old delivering at next summer's FIFA World Cup. Rooney certainly expects as much from a player he recently hailed as the nation's "greatest ever player".
Rooney, who is more than worthy of being considered one of the best British frontmen of all time, also thinks that title belongs to Kane. But he is incorrect, as we believe such an honour belongs to a fellow Manchester United legend, the late great Denis Law.
Harry Kane vs Denis Law - Careers Compared
Harry Kane celebrates scoring for England vs Albania
Goalscoring is the hardest art in football, and Kane and Law made it look easy during their eras in the game. While the iconic pair may sport different looks and have played their football for different clubs and nations, there was little to differentiate the duo in terms of their consistent prolificacy throughout their careers.
Kane's story is an inspiring one: he bounced back from rejection by Arsenal during his childhood and eventually destroyed the Gunners in the North London Derby. Every English fan knew Spurs had unearthed a special talent when he arrived on the scene in his early twenties, but the Lilywhites' all-time top scorer exceeded expectations.
That includes club and country, reaching club legend status while at Spurs alongside the likes of Jimmy Greaves and Gary Lineker. But he adapted his game to further influence his team during the latter stages of his spell in North London, taking on a more freedom-based role which was handed to him by Jose Mourinho.
Harry Kane's Goalscoring
Team:
Appearances:
Goals:
The only setback for Kane was the lack of a major trophy during his time with the Premier League club, and when Bayern came calling in the summer of 2023, he chose to take on a new challenge. That resulted in a Bundesliga triumph and astonishing goalscoring numbers at a rate that not even Robert Lewandowski achieved.
Harry Kane Achievements
Bundesliga Title
German Super Cup
European Golden Boot 2023-24
Premier League Golden Boot x3
World Cup 2018 Golden Boot
Euro 2024 Golden Boot
Champions League 2023-24 Golden Boot
Bundesliga Golden Boot x2
England All-Time Top Scorer
Tottenham All-Time Top Scorer
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Turning the focus to 'The King', which was an appropriate nickname for Law, given the manner in which he reigned over English football with Manchester United. The Scot, who passed away in January 2025, did everything with class and charisma, including firing the Red Devils to glory in the league and Europe.
Part of United's famous 'Holy Trinity' alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, he thrived during a dominant 1960s era. But it all started at Huddersfield Town, where he got his break before moving up the football ladder, earning a move to Manchester City before taking a dip in Italian football with Torino.
United spent a then-British transfer record £115,000 to bring him back to British shores, where he became the best of British. This included a Ballon d'Or in 1964, which, to this day, makes him the only Scottish footballer ever to claim the illustrious award.
|Denis Law's Goalscoring|
|Team:|Scotland|Man Utd|Man City|Torino|Huddersfield|
|Appearances:|54|405|72|28|4|
|Goals:|31|237|31|10|0|
|---|
Law was also Scotland's danger man throughout his international career, helping the Tartan Army qualify for the 1974 World Cup, and before that, starring in a 3-2 win over reigning world champions England at Wembley in 1967. He finished up his career back at City before retiring in 1974.
Denis Law Achievements
Ballon d'Or
European Champion Clubs' Cup
English First Division x2
FA Cup
European Champion Clubs' Cup 1968-69 Golden Boot
Scotland Joint-All-Time Top Scorer
Why Law Remains the Best of British
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There are so many factors to take into consideration when deciding between two greats of the game such as Law and Kane. You can look from a statistical standpoint or use the eye test to drive opinion, and it's the way in which the United icon played his football that just shades this battle of Britain.
Kane continues to be England's hero ahead of a World Cup campaign where he's tipped to captain the Three Lions to glory. That could quite possibly make him a red-hot favourite to claim next year's Ballon d'Or and follow in Law's footsteps.
Law's accomplishments still outweigh those of the Bayern man's and that's not solely down to Kane as he spent a large chunk of his career playing in a team not ready to win major trophies. It always made for compelling viewing, seeing him link up with Son Heung-min, who, statistically, are the best Premier League forward duo in history.
That doesn't come close to the domineering hold United's Holy Trident had over Europe during the 1960s, and the trio were as aesthetically pleasing as they come, working in tandem. Watching Kane drop deep and collect the ball to try and get his team on the attack has become a trademark of his game, but it isn't quite as sublime as Law's capacity to score any goal at any given moment.
Law, Charlton and Best
"If I had to send out one fella to score a goal to save my life, there's only one man I'd consider – it would have to be Denis" - Former Manchester United assistant manager Jimmy Murphy (via the Premier League's website)
Andy Beattie, who managed Law in his early years at Huddersfield, described him as a "freak" and he soon showed the world why he was held in such esteem once arriving on the grand stage, including "turning United around", according to Sir Alex Ferguson (via Manchester United's website):
"I think, when he joined us in 1963, he turned the club around. That's the greatest thing he could ever have done. Sir Matt [Busby] was recovering from the Munich Air Disaster and we'd win the first trophy in 1963, just after they signed Denis. The part he played at that time was so vital to the renovation of the team. I think most people always remember that signing from Italy. It was a cornerstone of their future success"
Kane might be the greatest English striker in history, but Law is in a league of his own when it comes to the best of Britain. An exquisite footballer whose larger-than-life character was on display on the pitch just as much as off of it.