I stopped Harry Kane - this is why he's not the world's best striker

EXCLUSIVE: Harry Kane is on fire this season with 50 goal contributions in 37 appearances

Leonardo Bonucci believes Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are the best players in the world right now, despite having fewer goal contributions than former Tottenham hero Harry Kane.

The ex-Spurs striker has been unstoppable for Bayern Munich this season, scoring 45 goals and assisting five times. Kane already has the German Supercup to his name in this campaign and Bayern have an 11-point cushion at the top of the league table with 10 games remaining.

Prior to his Bundesliga efforts, the England captain had scored 280 goals and assisted 63 times for Spurs - making him a modern-day hero in north London. However, Bonucci has ranked Mbappe and Haaland above Kane and previously revealed to Sports Illustrated how he stopped the striker during the Euro 2020 final.

He said: "Kane, on [the opposition’s final third] of the pitch, prefers to make short, sharp runs. So when the ball is around this area he likes to attack that space more than receiving the ball on his feet. But when he’s in [the middle] of the pitch, he likes to drop deep and help the team and create chances for others.

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"This is what happened [in the Euro 2020 final]. I wasn’t exactly the fastest defender, but I backed myself in a long distance. Against him, I risked it by trying to anticipate him because I know that, worst case scenario, I’d make [him go wide].

"Many times I managed to anticipate him also because when it comes to using your body, he didn’t excel in that, so he’d lose the duel often, and we also fought well on the high balls. In that specific game, I won many duels against him."

Five years on from this moment, Bonucci has gone on to describe his approach towards the likes of Haaland and snubbed Kane in the process. Speaking exclusively to football.london ahead of his return to Soccer Aid 2026 at the London Stadium, the 38-year-old said: "[On stopping Haaland] Ah, it's difficult, because he's a great player, and also he’s strong physically.

"It's not easy to anticipate him, you need to be smart when he moves from one direction, you need to anticipate, but without that it's not easy. I try to explain that to Mancini because we played against Norway last November.

"And he told me, Leo, I know, I know you are one of the best defenders, but for me, it's very difficult because he's incredible in the box when on the crossline. I love him and Mbappe both - they are the best players in the world right now."

This claim puts the Manchester City star on par with Real Madrid's Mbappe ahead of their major Champions League clash next week. Meanwhile, Kane is sitting on the outskirts in Bonucci's eyes on the best striker in the world conversation - but that doesn't mean he hasn't praised the forward before.

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In 2022, the former Italy international hailed Kane as one of the best at the time ahead of his country's Nations League showdown with England. He said: "With Kane, we have played many matches against each other.

"I believe he is a great striker and among the best in the world."

Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 31st May at the London Stadium. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10: socceraid.org.uk/tickets