World Cup 2018: Golden Ball Power Rankings

#5 Harry Kane

Harry Kane

Scoring goals in the World Cup is supposed to be hard work. Theoretically, you are playing one of the 32 best teams in the world as you try to evade defenders who have spent their lives preparing for that particular game. Then you have to score a goal past a goalkeeper who has visualized that particular moment for decades. The general belief is that you have to produce something special if you are going to score on World Football’s biggest stage.

Tell that to Harry Kane, who has poached five goals in his first two games in Russia. All the Tottenham Hotspur striker has done is convert two penalties, finish two tap-ins and score a goal off a deflection he knew nothing about. Nonetheless, five World Cup goals is more than many footballing legends have managed in their career.

Being in the right position at the right time is a skill- Kane’s positioning for both goals against Tunisia as he pounced on opportunities like an old-fashioned goal poacher. It is no wonder that Gareth Southgate was seen mouthing “Where’s Harry” right before Kane popped up to score the first goal against Tunisia. The English striker’s penalties against Panama were also excellent as he deposited both into the top corner. While the last goal of his hat-trick was pure luck (even Kane looked confused after the ball entered the net), Kane’s goals no matter how “easy” they seem should not be underestimated.

Even then, Kane’s impact apart from his goals has been very little and that will have to change if Kane is to be a true contender for the Golden Ball (he seems to the favourite for the Golden Boot though).