Former Manchester United and Brazil midfielder Kleberson, who won the 2002 World Cup, has labelled Harry Kane as the best striker in the world.
The 29-year-old scored his first goal of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in England’s 3-0 win against Senegal last night in the round of 16.
England’s captain is averaging a goal involvement in every World Cup game during his career with seven goals and three assists from ten matches.
The 79-time England international, who won the 2018 Golden Boot in Russia, will be hoping to fire the Three Lions to victory against France in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Harry Kane is the best striker in the world, says former Manchester United midfielder Kleberson
Kane didn’t score in any of the group games at last summer’s European Championships and Gareth Southgate’s men went on to reach the final.
England fans will be hoping the same pattern is unravelling in the Middle East.
Kane, who turns 30 in July, has tended to drop deeper as his career develops, but with the passing range he has, and the blistering pace England possess – him dropping into the hole creates space for England’s wingers to run in-behind.
Speaking via Brazilian news outlet Globo, Kleberson, who was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson after winning the 2002 World Cup, believes that Kane’s all-round game and his ability to make other players shine makes him the best striker in the world in his eyes.
Kleberson said: “I do consider it [best striker in the world] because he is a centre forward who does not create plays just for him, he makes other players grow.”
However, fellow former Brazil international Hernanes didn’t agree with Kleberson’s assessment and named two strikers that he believes are better than Tottenham’s talisman.
Hernanes said: “No. Not right now. I see two, I’m a guy who likes specificity, [central striker] has to be the goalscorer, Haaland and Benzema are in front [of Kane].”
Kane, whose contract with Spurs expires in 2024, has been frequently linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout his career and The Athletic reported that he was ‘curious’ to hear Manchester United out if a bid had come to fruition last summer.
With Cristiano Ronaldo no longer at the club, Erik ten Hag will be seeking striking reinforcements in the coming transfer windows.
Signing Kane in January will be impossible, but come the summer Tottenham’s number ten will only have 12 months left to run on his contract, which will put Daniel Levy in a difficult position.
If Kane doesn’t sign a new deal between now and the summer, Levy will have no choice but to consider offers for their star man.
The ship may have sailed on Kane’s chances of securing a move to the Theatre of Dreams given he turns 30 next year and Ten Hag may be looking at younger options.
But in Kleberson’s eyes – Kane is the best striker in the world right now.
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