More than Lionel Messi: ‘world-class’ Harry Kane is a record breaker for Spurs
Tottenham striker’s hat-trick against Southampton takes him above Barcelona legend in 2017 scoring charts
Harry Kane insists he still has room for improvement after the Tottenham striker’s treble set a Premier League record and took him above Lionel Messi to finish as Europe’s leading scorer in 2017.
Kane’s 22nd-minute header in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Southampton at Wembley was his 37th goal of the year, moving him past Alan Shearer’s previous Premier League record, which was set when he played for Blackburn in 1995.
But Kane wasn’t happy to settle for that milestone and he scored twice more to claim his eighth treble of the year.
His second goal took him to 55 for club and country in 2017 – lifting him above Barcelona great Messi to become Europe’s top-scorer over the last 12 months in the five major countries (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France).
Messi, who has 54 goals this year, cannot catch Kane as Barcelona do not play again until 2018.
It is the first time either Messi or Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have not led the way in nine years.