England captain Harry Kane is on the hunt for World Cup glory and is hoping Thomas Tuchel can take the Three Lions all the way in USA, Mexico and Canada after naming a squad that many have viewed as controversial13:36, 02 Jun 2026Updated 13:38, 02 Jun 2026Harry Kane admits he was not shocked by Thomas Tuchel leaving out big names from his World Cup squad - because the England manager wanted to make a “statement.”‌England captain Kane says Tuchel did not consult him over selection but was brutal as he axed the likes of Harry Maguire, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer. When asked if the announcement came as a surprise, Kane said: “No, indeed it didn't. He wanted to make a statement.‌“A World Cup is, after all, a major event; so, even though I had a feeling I would be selected, it was still a very nice feeling to receive that phone call. In fact, it’s going to be tough the day I stop getting called up.‌“We spoke this winter—during the winter break—and we stayed in touch throughout the season, though mostly through short messages wishing me "good luck" before a match. In any case, we never discussed player selection. He simply called me to let me know that I had made the squad.”Kane says his role in the squad is split between goalscorer and leader.He added: “It is indeed a delicate balancing act—particularly because, first and foremost, a forward is expected to score goals. If he isn't doing that, it becomes difficult for him to have the credibility to tell his teammates what they should be doing.‌“But, at the same time, being a leader means understanding that not everything hinges solely on your own performance; you also have to ensure that everyone around you is in a position to give their absolute best.”Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!However, the Three Lions talisman is targeting more records and the Ballon D’Or. Kane, in his own understated way, admits he believes he should get the ultimate player award after his incredible prolific season which has seen him score 61 goals for Bayern Munich.‌Kane also says that he wants new records at this summer’s World Cup and write his name into history books alongside Lionel Messi and Co is a huge motivational factor for him. England captain Kane, talking to L’Equipe, said: “It really is a pretty crazy total. My previous record for a single club season was 44 goals (in 2023–2024).“And once you cross that 60-goal threshold, you find yourself in a stratosphere that, until recently, had only been inhabited by Messi (73 goals in 2011–2012) and Cristiano Ronaldo (61 in 2014–2015). Back then, their statistics truly seemed out of reach to me. But if I crossed the 60-goal mark this season, it’s simply because—unlike in previous years—I didn't experience any dips in form."‌Will England win the World Cup? Give us your prediction in the comments section.Kane also has his eyes on the Ballon D’Or and said: “I like to use those kinds of benchmarks to motivate myself. That said, with an award like the Golden Boot, you have to remember that none of it would have been possible without my teammates, my club’s staff, and everyone who supports me on a daily basis. A huge part of my success belongs to them.“Given the trophies I’ve won this season and the number of goals I’ve scored, I’d definitely be in the running for the Ballon D’Or. Especially since, if England were to win the World Cup, one could imagine the trophy going to an English player.‌“When you look at who the current favourites are to land the Ballon d'Or, there’s Michael Olise, some players who reached the Champions League final, and myself. But at the same time, I’m not the kind of person to claim that I deserve a Ballon d'Or. I try to let my performances on the pitch do the talking."That, however will not stop him from dreaming of breaking new records at the World Cup this summer. He won the Golden Boot in 2018 with six goals and has two records in his sights this summer. He has scored eight goals in World Cups and would like to beat Gary Lineker’s record of the top scoring Englishman with ten. Miroslav Klose is the World Cup’s leading scorer with 16.Article continues belowHe added: “The one that would be extraordinary to hold is the record for the most goals scored in World Cup finals tournaments. But I’m still too far away from that for the moment. On the other hand, I might be able to break the record for the most goals scored by an Englishman in the World Cup. If I break that record, it will undoubtedly mean that the team is winning matches—which, of course, remains the most important thing.“It’s a quest that keeps you motivated, that drives you forward. I’m someone who constantly strives to improve. In fact, I can already tell you that I’ll be aiming to score more than 61 goals for my club next season.”