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Who is the best striker of the modern era, Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Kane?

Discover who is the better player between Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane: a debate on who is the most lethal striker of the modern era.

By Angel Carrillo Hernández

 Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane | @Cristiano and @HKane
Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane | @Cristiano and @HKane
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane represent two of the most prolific strikers in modern football. While Ronaldo has dominated world football with his incredible goal-scoring ability across multiple leagues, Kane has built his legacy in England and now in Germany, showcasing his goal instinct and leadership in attack. Although both are natural goal scorers, their styles and characteristics have shaped careers with distinct trajectories. In this comparison, we will focus on their numbers and how they have impacted their respective teams.

Goals in club football: offensive power and consistency

When it comes to club goals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane have demonstrated an impressive ability to decide matches with their goal-scoring instincts. Both players have maintained elite scoring averages, albeit in different contexts.

Cristiano Ronaldo

With 709 goals in 951 matches, Ronaldo holds an average of 0.74 goals per game. His ability to score in any league and with every team he has played for places him among the greatest goal scorers in history.

  • Real Madrid: 450 goals in 438 matches, all-time top scorer of the club.
  • Juventus: 101 goals in 134 matches.
  • Manchester United (two spells): 145 goals in 346 matches.
  • Al Nassr: 13 goals in 15 matches as of January 2025.

Harry Kane

Kane has been synonymous with consistency and offensive leadership, scoring 358 goals in 583 matches, maintaining an average of 0.61 goals per game. His adaptability has kept him among the best strikers in football, both in english football and the Bundesliga.

  • Tottenham Hotspur: 280 goals in 435 matches, all-time top scorer of the club.
  • Bayern Munich: 24 goals in 23 matches as of January 2025.

While Ronaldo has more club goals, Kane has established himself as a consistent striker, even after moving to a new league.

Performance in the Champions League

The UEFA Champions League is where the best strikers leave their mark. While Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in the competition, Kane has been a key player for his teams, although he has yet to achieve the same collective success.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo: 140 goals in 183 Champions League matches, with 5 titles won.
  • Harry Kane: 30 goals in 57 matches, with one final played in 2019.

Ronaldo dominates this category, having played a decisive role in multiple Champions League-winning campaigns. Kane, meanwhile, has been a reliable scorer in the competition but has yet to secure a European title.

Assists and team contribution

Both strikers have proven that they are not just goal scorers, but also playmakers who create opportunities for their teammates.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Club assists: 223, reflecting his evolution into a more complete player.
  • His ability to create plays made him an attacker who not only scored but also assisted teammates.

Harry Kane

  • Club assists: 100, showing his development as a playmaking striker.
  • His partnership with Son Heung-min at Tottenham was one of the most effective duos in Premier League history.

Kane has a "playmaker forward" profile, while Ronaldo was primarily a goal-scoring winger before transitioning into a central striker. However, Ronaldo has the edge in overall goal contribution (goals + assists).

Goals in national teams

At the international level, both Ronaldo and Kane have been crucial figures for Portugal and England, respectively. Both hold the record as their nations' all-time top scorers.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Goals with Portugal: 135 goals in 217 matches, all-time leading scorer in international football.
  • International titles: Euro 2016 and Nations League 2019.

Harry Kane

  • Goals with England: 62 goals in 91 matches, England’s all-time top scorer.
  • Best achievement: Runner-up at Euro 2020 and Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup (6 goals).

Ronaldo has the advantage with international trophies, while Kane has been England’s leader but is still seeking a major title with his national team.

Goals in finals and big matches

The ability to score in decisive moments defines the greatest strikers. In this aspect, Ronaldo is a specialist, while Kane is still building his record in crucial matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Goals in finals: 20 goals in official finals, including 4 in Champions League finals.
  • Decisive player in multiple title wins for Real Madrid and Portugal.

Harry Kane

  • Goals in finals: 3 goals in finals, including the EFL Cup final and the German Super Cup.
  • He played a key role in Euro 2020 with England but did not score in the final against Italy.

The difference is clear, with Ronaldo dominating in high-pressure moments, while Kane is still looking to prove himself in the biggest finals.

Recent news

In 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine at Al Nassr, having reached 917 career goals. Meanwhile, Harry Kane, in his first season with Bayern Munich, is leading the Bundesliga in goals, with 24 goals in 23 matches, proving that his goal-scoring instincts remain intact after leaving the Premier League.

What you need to know about Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane

  • Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 709 club goals, while Harry Kane has 358 goals.
  • Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 140 goals, while Kane has 30 goals in the competition.
  • In international football, Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer with 135 goals, while Kane leads England with 62 goals.
  • Ronaldo has provided 223 assists in club football, while Kane has 100 assists.
  • Ronaldo has scored 20 goals in finals, including 4 in Champions League finals, while Kane has scored 3 goals in finals.
  • In 2025, Ronaldo is still playing at Al Nassr, while Kane is the Bundesliga's top scorer with Bayern Munich.

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