Harry Kane has surged past Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to set a stunning new goalscoring benchmark, showcasing his explosive start to the season with Bayern Munich. The England captain struck in Bayern’s 4-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge on Wednesday, tapping home in the 14th minute to mark his 20th goal of the season in just 12 games for club and country (Shashwat Nishant, New Delhi).
Messi needed 17 matches to reach the same tally at his quickest, while Ronaldo took 13 games during the 2014–15 campaign. Kane’s early-season exploits highlight his consistency and lethal finishing, which have made him an instant force in the Bundesliga.
Kane is now closing in on a string of records for both club and country. Wayne Rooney remains the only Englishman to have scored 25 Champions League goals for a single club, a mark Kane is now just two goals away from equalling with Bayern. He had already netted 21 goals for Tottenham Hotspur in Europe before joining the German giants, and his tally continues to rise.
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In his next European outing, Kane could also match Robert Lewandowski’s Bayern record of 25 Champions League goals in his first 29 appearances. He reached 100 goals for the club faster than any player in Europe’s top five leagues and recently marked his 400th career goal against Borussia Dortmund.
Kane’s form extends to the international arena as well. His recent goal against Latvia increased his tally for England while playing for Bayern to 18, surpassing Gary Lineker’s long-standing record of 17 England goals scored while at Barcelona.
Bayern dominated their clash with Club Brugge, with 17-year-old debutant Lennart Karl opening the scoring. Kane added the second before former Liverpool winger Luis Díaz made it 3-0 by halftime. Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson completed the 4-0 rout in the second half. Kane’s relentless scoring spree shows little sign of slowing, and he appears poised to etch his name ever deeper into footballing history.