Harry Kane's dream of lifting the World Cup trophy on his 33rd birthday was shattered as England lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-finals. The striker, who scored 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich this season, failed to score from open play in the latter stages of the tournament.
Season of highs and lows
Kane enjoyed his best ever goalscoring season, firing Bayern to a dominant league and cup double. He was agonisingly close to reaching his second Champions League final, as Bayern lost an 11-goal semi-final thriller to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
At the World Cup, Kane started with two goals against Croatia and another double against DR Congo to save England from a round-of-32 exit. However, he struggled in the knockout stages, with Argentina delivering the fatal blow.
Return to Premier League?
Kane's contract with Bayern expires next summer. He decided against activating a clause that would have allowed clubs like Barcelona to sign him for £64m. Speaking last October, he said: "In terms of the Premier League, I don't know... If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now that I have been there a couple of years, I would probably say that (desire to return) has gone down a little bit. But I wouldn't say I would never go back." Tottenham have first refusal if he leaves Munich.
Ballon d'Or hopes 'over'
Kane is the bookies' favourite for the Ballon d'Or, but former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit told Mr Gamble: "Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or chances are over. If you base that only on the German league, okay, no problem at all. But in the Champions League and with the national team, when it started to be really hard to win, I think he disappeared."
Petit added: "I can't point the finger at him because he tried everything he could, and he scored many goals, but he didn't have an impact in the big games, just like in the Champions League. So, I think there are a few names ahead of him."
England future uncertain
After the semi-final defeat, Kane said: "It's too early to talk about that... I'm taking it year by year and the national team is my pride and joy. It's what I love to do most more than anything. Obviously four years is a long way away, I'm 33 this summer but it never ended with Leo (Messi) there, he's still performing at the highest level. I never want to put a limit on these things."
He will be 36 at the next World Cup, but England co-host Euro 2028, giving Kane a potential opportunity to win a major trophy at Wembley.
