Harry Kane has blamed the influence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the lack of current number nines in the game. (More Football News)
He credits the two foot꧑balling behemoths for encouraꦏging new players to be wingers rather than taking up the traditional striker role.
Kane has made his own caꦕse for bein😼g listed among the best in the number nine role. He netted his 50th goal in the Bundesliga in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Augsburg last week, reaching the milestone in just 43 appearances.
It smashe🅺d the previous record of 50 set by Erling Haaland during his time at Borussia ꧃Dortmund.
"The game is changing a little b✤it. The way coaching is now [means] a lot of players grow up wanting to be wingers,” Kane told TNT Sport Brazil.
"ꦛI think Messi and Cristiano dꦛominated for a long, long time playing off the wings. I think a lot of players wanted to watch them.
"When I was growing up𒁏, I had some of the best strikers in the world [to watch], so I want𒆙ed to be a number nine.
"That’s just the way football goes. I think, tactically, some managers play with a false nine, or a nine-and-a-half or 10 🅰position.
"But for sure, when I wܫas growing up at number nine, there were some incredible players."
Kane certainly took note, becoming a complete striker. Of Kane's 50 Bundesliga goals, 10 have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with hiﷺs left and nine withও his head.
He is also the quickest Ba▨yern player to hit 50 league goals for the club, surpassing Robert L🌊ewandowski's previous record of 64 games by a staggering 21 matches.
The England captain, who is preparing for a Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on 🎃Tuesday, drew particular inspiration from Brazilian great Ronaldo.
"I think we’re totally different players in the way♒ we play, but ultimately, the way he used to finish was as good as anyone, as well as the way he mo෴ved with the ball,” Kane added.
"His dribbling ability. His movement. I think hಞe was ꦿas good as anyone in the world. He had a lot more ability than me if I’m totally honest. He had good pace as well.
"But for me growing u🍨p, I tried to watch all the best strikers in the world, and he was in his prime at the time.
"It was a joy to watch him, and it’s been 💖nice to score a few goals myself and take a few bits from his game."
