The history books will not reflect the nature of Kane’s six goals but three were penalties, one a fortuitous deflection off his right heel, one a tap-in and a header from two yards – albeit a crucial stoppage-time one against Tunisia which played a key part in England avoiding another group-stage exit.
But in terms of the post-tournament showreel he is unlikely to contribute in as eye-catching a way as Cristiano Ronaldo with a curling free-kick from 25 yards to make it 3-3 for Portugal against Spain, or Benjamin Pavard creating top spin of which Roger Federer would be envious as France came from behind to beat Argentina.
Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann or Kylian Mbappé will have to notch four goals on Sunday to deny Harry Kane the Golden Boot. The Frenchmen would need to do what no player, including the hat-trick scorer Geoff Hurst, has managed in a World Cup final to prevent the 24-year-old from getting his hands on the glimmering trophy.
It is a remarkable achievement by Kane and would place him alongside legends such as Eusébio and Ronaldo as well as Gary Lineker, England’s only winner of the prestigious award.
Kane is unarguably a great striker – his goalscoring record for club and country attests to that – but a lacklustre display against Belgium intensified the feeling that his overall impact on this World Cup has been unremarkable. England would probably have been heading home after the group stages without Kane’s contribution, but as the tournament progressed he looked a shell of himself and expressed regret that he had not been on the scoresheet for England’s final three games against Sweden, Croatia and Roberto Martínez’s side.
