England captain Harry Kane says “competition” from expected Golden Boot rivals Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland pushed him to make a flying start to this World Cup.
Kane is bidding to become the first man in history to be the top scorer at a World Cup twice, having won the accolade in 2018.
Mbappe – who scored twice as France beat Senegal 3-1 in their opener – and Haaland, who also bagged a brace as Norway thrashed Iraq 4-1, are expected to be his biggest competition in North America this summer.
Kane equalled their starts to this summer’s tournament with a brace as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opener on Wednesday, and said they pushed him to reach “the highest level”.
He said: “Obviously I saw the guys scoring their goals. I don’t like to concentrate on other people, but it is natural as a sportsman and athlete to want to reach the highest level.
“Those guys started in a great way. As a striker myself, I just want to get on the scoresheet as quickly as possible.
“In the back of my mind that competition helps me to push my levels. That is what the World Cup is for, to push myself at the highest level, so it is nice to get a couple.”
Kane’s first-half brace in Dallas saw him equal Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals for England, with surely plenty more to come.
His fast start at the World Cup comes on the back of a record-breaking season for Bayern Munich, where he scored 61 goals in 51 games, and he says he is at the “peak of his powers”.
“It’s a great milestone to reach, to get 10 goals at a World Cup,” he added. “Gary had some amazing tournaments and to be on that number now is really enjoyable.
“To reach double figures at this amazing tournament is very special. Physically, I am feeling good. The goals I have scored this year are the most I have ever had in my career, I feel I am at the peak of my powers at the right time.
“There is a long way to go, a lot of tough games ahead, but for me personally I enjoy being out there on the pitch when I am feeling in this form.”
