Memorable moments linger in history: Louis XVI at Place de la Révolution in 1793, Benjamin the thylacine at Hobart Zoo in 1936, and Harry Kane at the World Cup in 2026. The conclusion of an era often leaves the most lasting impressions.
This summer, England’s captain will venture across the Atlantic, bearing the immense expectations of his nation. At 32, this is likely to be his final World Cup as England’s leader and one of football’s most formidable strikers. Regardless of when he decides to retire, there seems to be no capable successor waiting in the wings to fill his shoes.
During March’s draw with Uruguay and a loss to Japan, the absence of Kane highlighted what England might face in a future devoid of a premier striker. Many observers noted the team appeared “lost and confused,” gaining a “grim glimpse” into life without their key player.
There is no debate that England will be reliant on Kane this summer, yet what follows his departure from international duty is an uncertain journey ahead.
For the majority of England fans, the idea of their team lacking one of the world’s top forwards is bewildering. Since Tony Woodcock was substituted for Gary Lineker during England’s 1-1 draw with Scotland on May 26, 1984, the nation has been fortunate to experience a 42-year streak of elite talent in this position.
From the 1986 World Cup in Mexico onward, England has relied on the likes of Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, and Harry Kane as the spearheads of their attack at every major tournament they qualified for. Although they haven’t dazzled at every event, their talent allowed England’s coaches to allocate focus to other areas, given the almost unanimous agreement on the identity of the starting No. 9.
That remarkable pipeline has resulted in 249 international goals (and counting), two World Cup Golden Boots, 11 top-flight Golden Boots, three all-time club scoring records, and 11 Player of the Season accolades.
Additionally, they have been complemented by reliable forwards such as Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright, Robbie Fowler, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, and Peter Crouch.
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“The No. 9 position used to be the one everyone aspired to,” Heskey tells ESPN. “It revolved around goals and hold-up play, but now the game has evolved, and many prefer to play as wingers.”
Heskey reflects on witnessing countless potential caps and goals fade away with the rise of legendary figures like Kane.
“I enjoyed the challenge,” he shares. “Playing alongside Wayne Rooney, for example, meant adapting my style—knowing Wayne preferred to drop deeper into midfield, I had to learn how to create space for him. It constantly pushed me to adapt my game and support my teammates.”
How England’s Striker Lineage Compares to Others
While England’s pipeline of strikers is impressive, France comes close with their diverse forwards, only interrupted by a brief lull in the 1990s that succeeded legends like Jean-Pierre Papin, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, David Trézéguet, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappé.
France can also point to their tangible achievements, notably winning the World Cups in 1998 and 2018.
Spain has been on an astounding run of elite midfield talent since the early 1990s, beginning with Pep Guardiola and continuing with stars like Rodri, Pedri, and Gavi. Spain can argue they have had the highest concentration of world-class players in a single role throughout history.
Italy boasts a stellar lineage in defense with icons like Gaetano Scirea, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Bonucci, reaching back even further than England’s striker history. However, recent failures to qualify for major tournaments questions the vitality of that lineage.
It is noteworthy how sustained excellence in certain positions shapes football reputations. With the exception of England, these sequences have often been central to success in major tournaments.
Depending on perspective, England’s struggle to secure a prolific striker after Kane may be viewed as unfortunate or as a glaring example of mismanagement.
Who Will Succeed Kane for England?
While Kane may not have clinched the Champions League title with Bayern Munich, his move to Germany has ignited his goal-scoring prowess, netting 95 goals in 93 Bundesliga matches. Even if he departed Bayern today, he’d still be regarded as one of their all-time greats.
His departure has spotlighted the scarcity of recognized strikers in the English Premier League. Only three English forwards managed 10 or more goals this season—a joint-record low. The performances from 30-year-old Ollie Watkins (16 goals), 29-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin (14 goals) and 35-year-old Danny Welbeck (13 goals) highlight solid performances but fall short of greatness.
Additionally, 30-year-old Ivan Toney, currently thriving in the Saudi Pro League with 31 goals in 30 appearances for Al Ahli, could soon join Kane and Watkins on the international stage this summer.
However, these seasoned strikers are unlikely to outlast Kane and claim his No. 9 jersey following his eventual international exit, which means the future will rest on a new generation. Signs indicate a troubling trend, though.
In his latest England Under-21 squad, Lee Carsley selected only two strikers—Liam Delap and Jay Stansfield—while none featured in last summer’s European Championship team. Delap, considered the most promising candidate to succeed Kane, has had a difficult first season at Chelsea, scoring just one Premier League goal after his move from Ipswich last year.
The decline of the traditional No. 9 has been evident since the Premier League’s inception in 1992-93, as clubs have increasingly sought talent from beyond England’s borders due to the global nature of the sport and the financial strength of the elite teams.
Moreover, the rise of goal-scoring wingers, significantly influenced by Pep Guardiola, has reduced the demand for traditional strikers. Nonetheless, there is a revival, with players like Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyökeres, and Alexander Isak commanding hefty transfer fees in recent years as the league shifts back to a focus on powerful, pacey players.
It’s important to note that Wayne Rooney seemed to signify the end of an era nearing retirement in the mid-2010s, only for Kane to rise to prominence and reshape England’s prospects once again.
“In football, it’s crucial to accept when an era concludes and to explore how things will look going forward,” Heskey suggests. “We shouldn’t seek another Harry Kane because that’s simply not realistic. We’ve never had another Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, or Alan Shearer; instead, we evolve and adapt our game.”
This interview with Emile Heskey was conducted for Booker as part of a campaign encouraging England fans to shop locally during the Summer of Sport.