Anthony Barry compares Kane and Ronaldo
England assistant Anthony Barry compared Harry Kane with Cristiano Ronaldo before England faced Czechia on October 6, 2026. Barry said Kane was the best ball striker he had ever worked with during his coaching career.
Barry had direct experience with both forwards before making the assessment. He coached Ronaldo with Portugal and worked with Kane at Bayern Munich before joining Thomas Tuchel’s England staff, giving his comparison a professional basis.
Barry focuses on Kane’s ball striking
Barry said Harry Kane was the best ball striker he had ever worked with, explicitly including Cristiano Ronaldo among the great finishers he had coached during his career.
The England assistant highlighted Kane’s repetition, clarity in ball striking, and ability with both feet during warm-ups. Barry said it was a level he had never previously experienced.
Anthony Barry coached Ronaldo with Portugal
Barry joined Roberto Martinez’s Portugal coaching staff in March 2023 after previously working with him for Belgium. That position put Barry on the same national team staff as Ronaldo during Portugal’s preparation for Euro 2024.
Ronaldo was already Portugal’s captain and record scorer during Barry’s time with the national team. Barry, therefore, made his Kane comparison after working directly with Ronaldo as part of Portugal’s international coaching staff.
Anthony Barry also worked with Kane
Barry also worked closely with Kane after joining Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich in April 2023. Kane arrived from Tottenham later that year, giving Barry firsthand experience of the England captain’s methods at club level.
Their work together continued when Barry became England’s assistant head coach alongside Tuchel. The Football Association announced both appointments in October 2024, with the new England coaching team officially beginning its work in January 2025.
Kane’s warmup impressed Anthony Barry
Barry pointed to Kane’s warm-up routine as evidence behind his assessment. He emphasized repeated ball striking and precision, saying Kane could execute with both feet at a level the coach had never previously experienced.
That observation narrowed the Ronaldo comparison to a specific football skill rather than overall career achievement. Ronaldo holds major scoring and appearance records, while Barry’s comments focused specifically on Kane’s ball-striking during shooting drills.
Harry Kane scores twice against Czechia
Kane strengthened the timing of Barry’s comments with another major England performance on October 6. He scored twice as England defeated Czechia 3-0 at Wembley Stadium in the UEFA Nations League.
The goals raised Kane’s England total from 89 to 91 on a milestone night. He also supplied the cross that Vladimir Coufal turned into his own net, contributing directly to all 3 goals.
Harry Kane reaches 125 England caps
Kane’s appearance against Czechia was his 125th for England, drawing him level with former goalkeeper Peter Shilton. The pair now share the record for the most senior men’s appearances in England national team football history.
Kane reached 125 caps in 11 years and 193 days, according to England Football. That was 8 years and 31 days faster than Shilton, whose 125 appearances stretched across 19 years and 224 total days.
Harry Kane extends England scoring record
Kane already held England’s scoring record before the Czech Republic match, and his brace moved the total to 91. England Football lists 125 senior appearances and 91 goals for the Bayern striker as of October 7.
His 2 goals against Czechia also lifted his 2026 England total to 13. England Football says only Kane’s own 16-goal total from 2021 is higher for an England player in one single calendar year.
Fun fact: Harry Kane was released by Arsenal at age 9 before eventually joining Tottenham at 11.
Harry Kane reaches 100 Bundesliga goals
Kane’s club scoring provides more context for Barry’s praise. On September 18, 2026, the Bayern striker became the fastest player in Bundesliga history to reach 100 goals, achieving the milestone in his 98th league appearance.
The previous Bundesliga benchmark belonged to Dieter Müller, who needed 129 appearances to reach 100 goals for Cologne. Kane therefore reached the same milestone 31 appearances sooner, according to the Bundesliga’s official records.
Harry Kane adds major Bayern numbers
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 competitive appearances for Bayern during the 2025 to 2026 season. His production helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and DFB Cup, completing a domestic league and cup double.
Bayern also reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals before losing to Paris Saint-Germain. Kane is nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, whose awards ceremony is scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium.
Cristiano Ronaldo holds world record
Ronaldo’s international numbers remain far ahead in total volume. UEFA listed the Portugal forward at a world record 146 international goals from 234 appearances in late September 2026, extending his lead among men’s international scorers.
Ronaldo is also Portugal’s most-capped player, making Barry’s comparison notable without changing those records. The coach’s statement addressed ball striking from his personal experience and did not claim Kane had surpassed Ronaldo’s career achievements.
Anthony Barry brings broad experience
Barry’s coaching path explains why his opinion drew attention. Before England, he worked with Wigan Athletic, Chelsea, the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, and Bayern Munich, gaining extensive experience across club and international football.
He first worked under Tuchel at Chelsea after joining Frank Lampard’s staff in 2020. Barry later reunited with Tuchel at Bayern, where he coached Kane, before becoming the German manager’s assistant with England in 2025.
England’s victory over Mexico still left Tuchel with concerns about the team’s overall display. “Not good enough,” Tuchel says after England’s win over Mexico reveals what left the manager dissatisfied despite the result.
Anthony Barry praises Kane’s complete game
Barry also praised Kane beyond shooting technique, highlighting his intelligence, leadership, and willingness to perform defensive work. His comments presented the England captain as a forward whose contribution extends beyond finishing and scoring goals.
Those comments came as Kane continued reaching major milestones for club and country. By October 7, 2026, he had 91 England goals, 125 caps, and the Bundesliga record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals.
Kane’s time away from soccer produced an unexpected experience alongside Trump on the golf course. Explore why Harry Kane describes the golf round with President Donald Trump and what he shared about the unusual outing.
Do you agree with Anthony Barry that Harry Kane is a better ball striker than Cristiano Ronaldo? Share your take in the comments and tell us who gets your vote.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
