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Harry Redknapp has disclosed to GOAL the moment when a young Harry Kane was dismissed as someone who would “never be good enough”, a judgment that the England captain has completely overturned through his remarkable career. During his early days at Tottenham Hotspur, there were widespread doubts about whether the determined striker could make the cut. Fast forward to today, and Kane stands as the all-time top scorer for both Spurs and the England national team, as well as a consistent Ballon d’Or contender.

Kane’s journey included a series of loan spells before he established himself at Tottenham. Between 2011 and 2013, he went on loan to several Football League clubs, including Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City, and Leicester City. He registered his first senior goals during these stints, but few observers could have predicted the heights he would later reach through relentless dedication.

At the time, those at Brisbane Road — home of Leyton Orient — were not convinced Kane would grow into a top-level player. Yet, the now 32-year-old has gone on to rewrite football history in north London, become a Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich, and score 79 goals for his country.

Today, Kane is widely regarded as the finest No.9 in world football, admired for his consistency and all-round skill. Redknapp, who saw Kane’s potential during his time in charge at Tottenham, is certain that the modest East Londoner belongs among the game’s global elite.

Recalling the early doubts surrounding Kane’s ability during his time in the EFL, Redknapp, speaking in association with BuzzBallz, told GOAL that Kane would be his first choice in any team ahead of Erling Haaland and others. “All day. Harry is the best for me. Haaland’s great, he scores goals, but Harry Kane can do everything — he can pass like a midfielder, he sprays the ball like Glenn Hoddle. When he drops deep, his passing is fantastic. He can do everything.”

Redknapp went on to recall: “I loaned him out back in the day when Barry Hearn was Leyton Orient’s chairman. Barry had Harry on loan, along with Steven Caulker and Andros Townsend, and they helped Orient rise off the bottom of the league.”

“When I was managing Tottenham, Barry told me: ‘Andros Townsend could play for Spurs, Steven Caulker could go back and play for Spurs, but Harry Kane — no, he’ll never be good enough for Spurs.’”

“Look how wrong he was. Harry improved, trained hard, and became what he is today. He’s a role model for any youngster — proof that with persistence, practice, and hard work, you can achieve anything. What he’s done is incredible.”

Kane’s achievements have now placed him firmly in the conversation for England’s greatest-ever player. He is closing in on Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps and is determined to end England’s six-decade wait for a major trophy by leading the Three Lions to World Cup glory this summer.

When asked whether Kane could surpass icons like Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Paul Gascoigne, and Wayne Rooney, Redknapp responded: “Well, Bobby — I’m biased towards Bobby Moore, he was my mate and we played together at West Ham for years. It’s difficult.”

“Bobby Charlton was another legendary player, and Gazza was unbelievable. But Harry Kane, for me, is the best centre-forward in the world. He’s a complete player — great talent, top professional, family man, disciplined, you never hear a bad word about him. He scores, creates, heads, runs, tackles, leads — he does everything for the team. Just incredible. Scoring 61 goals this season in Germany — it’s unbelievable what he’s achieved from where he started.”

Redknapp added: “He’s done it through sheer dedication. He used to stay back after training for an hour, hour-and-a-half, practising on his own. He took the setbacks, went out on multiple loans, didn’t always get minutes, but never gave up. He just kept working harder until he reached the top. For me, he’s without question the best centre-forward in the world.”

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, England, led by Kane, will begin their campaign against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team — on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel’s side will aim to deliver joy to their loyal, long-suffering supporters.

BuzzBallz, partnering with football fans this summer, aims to bring a dose of fun back to the game. To commemorate the 21,866 days since England last lifted a major trophy, the popular ready-to-drink brand is giving away 21,866 products to fans who share creative, humorous, or surprising photos and videos featuring BuzzBallz during the tournament.

How far can England go at the World Cup this time?