Tottenham forward Harry Kane will celebrate a milestone birthday this summer but has talked up the possibility of playing until he is 40 after receiving his latest accolade on Thursday.
Kane was officially awarded the Freedom of the City of London during a ceremony at Guildhall alongside wife Kate, his three children and various members of his family.
Kane was nominated for one of the city’s most ancient traditions due to his outstanding sporting achievements, with the England captain only 50 goals away from becoming the Premier League’s record goalscorer.
While it has been a difficult season for club Tottenham, Kane has netted 28 times in the Premier League ahead of his 30th birthday in July.
When reflecting on his own potential longevity, the Spurs academy graduate referenced the ages of Karim Benzema, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were all in their mid-thirties when celebrating recent Ballon d’Or wins.
“I am someone who always wants to push, always wants to get better, so if I am scoring goals at 39, then for sure I probably will play until I’m 40,” Kane told the PA news agency.
“I always said I think it depends how your career has gone and what you’ve achieved, what kind of mindset you are in at that stage.
“Sometimes there is a perception when you reach 30 that you’re coming to the end but in recent history some of the players who have been Ballon d’Or winners or Champions League winners have been 35, 36, 37.
“I think as long as you stay mentally hungry and physically in a good place, which I am, then I feel like you can play as long as possible.
“For sure I want to be playing another seven or eight years at the highest level and hopefully I can do that.”
There remains uncertainty over Kane’s future with only one year left on his deal at Tottenham, although the club have no intention of selling their star forward this summer.
Kane has repeatedly insisted his focus is on finishing another prolific season strongly as Spurs prepare to visit Leeds on Sunday with Europa Conference League qualification up for grabs.
Despite Tottenham’s poor campaign, Kane has closed in on Alan Shearer’s record haul of 260 Premier League goals.
He added: “This season has been difficult on a whole as a team. It has had its challenges but I always set myself little targets throughout the season, month by month.
“To score 28 goals is something I am proud of with one game to go and hopefully I can score a couple more on Sunday and finish strong.
“I just have to keep improving and every year I try to do that, finding different ways to score and that is something I will continue to do for the rest of my career.
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“As I have said before, with any record you are not focused on the record, you are focused on helping the team and scoring goals to do that, so then when the records come, you take them and you’re extremely proud of them.
“Yeah, that could be another couple of years away yet but I am feeling in a good place and hopefully I am playing for many more years so it is definitely a target that can be reached.”
After Kane added the Freedom of the City of London to the MBE he received in 2019, he joked it would take a major tournament win with England to earn a knighthood.
Whatever the future holds, he is determined to help the next generation through The Harry Kane Foundation, which was launched in October with the aim of changing perception about mental health.
“I reckon we’d have to win the Euros or World Cup and then it (knighthood) might be in the conversation but these things are incredible,” Kane said after he received the Freedom of the City of London.
On his Foundation, Kane explained: “We have had amazing feedback, (taken) amazing steps so far.
“I wanted to start the journey to learn more about mental health and especially with younger boys and younger girls, to see what they are going through and to use some of my experiences to help them.
“It has been a great journey and is something I want to build year on year. It is something I want to continue after I am finished, (in) 10 years or so.
“We’re on a good journey so far and it is not just London, it is for the whole country and the whole world to try to help as many people as possible.”
Orlando City v Charlotte FC: McGuire glad to be back among the goals
Duncan McGuire is glad to be back among the goals as Orlando City continue their playoff charge, with a home clash with Eastern Conference rivals Charlotte FC next on the agenda.
McGuire had gone over two months without a goal in MLS play since netting in June's 4-2 defeat to New York City, prior to Saturday's meeting with the New England Revolution.
But he was on target in a 3-0 win for Oscar Pareja's team, who now boast a four-point cushion to those outside the automatic playoff spots in the Eastern Conference standings.
Speaking after the game, the forward said: "It's always good to score. It has been a while since I've scored.
"It's been a bit annoying for my standards, so I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet.
"But at the end of the day, if we're winning as a team, then that's all that matters. But yeah, I'm definitely glad to be back on the scoresheet and hopefully I can keep it going.
"We're very excited and it helps us with motivation and confidence going into the next one. We're excited to get the win and onto Wednesday."
Wednesday's game could prove pivotal in the battle to reach the postseason, with Charlotte just two places and two points behind the Lions in the standings.
The Crown were going well before the Leagues Cup break but have since suffered back-to-back losses versus Atlanta United and CF Montreal, leading coach Dean Smith to rally his troops.
"Before the break, we had three of the toughest games you can get, and we came through those away games unbeaten with five points and probably should have had more," he said.
"My consistent message is this is a new game; this is a new beginning.
"When you have six games left and build it like that, then they know their performance levels have to be to go and win that game."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Orlando City – Duncan McGuire
Since the beginning of last season, McGuire has recorded 27 goal contributions (21 goals, six assists) in the regular season for Orlando.
That is the second most by any American in that time, behind only Brian White (34).
Charlotte FC – Tim Ream
Ream scored his first goal for Charlotte from a header against Montreal last time out. It was Ream's second career MLS goal, with the other coming on September 11 2010, for the New York Red Bulls, a gap of 5,117 days.
MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN
Charlotte are unbeaten in four straight matches against Orlando City in all competitions (two wins, two draws) after the Lions won each of the first two meetings between the sides.
The Crown have also scored at least once in each of their last four away matches in league play, only being shut out three times on their travels this year. Only five MLS teams have been shut out fewer times on the road this season.
While they will carry a threat, Orlando have won their last two games by 3-0 scorelines, at home to Nashville SC and New England, the first time they have won back-to-back MLS matches by three or more goals. They go in as favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Orlando City – 53.4%
Charlotte FC – 22.7%
Draw – 23.9%
Los Angeles FC v Austin FC: Wolff still targeting playoff spot
Austin FC may have suffered a disappointing loss last time out, but Josh Wolff is aiming to bounce back against Los Angeles FC to give themselves a playoff chance.
The Black and Verde were beaten 2-1 by Toronto FC at the weekend after failing to find a late equaliser, condemning them to a second consecutive defeat.
Austin currently sit 11th in the Western Conference but are losing ground on the playoff spots as they are 10 points behind Houston Dynamo in seventh.
Wolff admitted that their task is now harder but is determined to make sure his team are still in the conversation come the end of the regular season.
"I think there's a points total that we have in mind," Wolff said, "but we need to work on things.
"We're going to be able to get chances, but the playoffs are still achievable. We have to pick up points and get to the last game with a chance of still getting in.
"We've got to take care of our chances in a better way, that's all."
Meanwhile, LAFC are winless in three MLS matches, giving up a 2-0 lead against rivals LA Galaxy last time out in a 4-2 defeat.
They still sit second in the table, but the teams below them have closed the gap.
Steve Cherundolo was quick to brush aside Saturday's defeat, with his sole focus now on picking up three points.
"We'll try to turn it around as fast as possible to get some points on Wednesday night," he said.
"We'll continue to go and hope fatigue doesn't play more of a part as players continue to get towards full fitness."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
LAFC – Denis Bouanga
Denis Bouanga has scored six career goals against Austin FC in all competitions, tied for the most of any player against them.
Austin FC – Alexander Ring
Austin failed to register a shot on target against Vancouver on August 31 but improved on that despite their loss to Toronto last time out.
While Owen Wolff got the goal at the weekend, Alexander Ring registered the most shots on target with two.
MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN
Los Angeles have won seven of 10 all-time meetings with Austin (D1 L2), though the Verde and Black did manage to take a point when the sides met in league play in Austin on June 19. LAFC have won four of five home matches against Austin (L1), keeping clean sheets in all four wins.
However, LAFC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Houston Dynamo in their last home match. They have never lost two straight regular-season home matches and have failed to score in back-to-back home league matches only once, doing so against Atlanta United and Houston in June 2023.
Meanwhile, Austin have lost eight of their last 13 regular season matches (W3 D2) dating back to late May. Austin had lost only seven times in their previous 23 regular season matches dating back to September 2023 (W7 D9).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
LAFC – 66.3%
Draw – 18.4%
Austin FC – 15.3%
Luis Enrique: PSG ready to create new stars in Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain may have a less experienced side than in previous years, but Luis Enrique believes they are primed for success.
PSG are embarking on their first Champions League without Kylian Mbappe in seven years, with the Frenchman scoring 48 goals in the competition for the club.
He also helped them to reach the final in 2020, only to lose out on the trophy to Bayern Munich.
PSG host Champions League debutants Girona on Wednesday, boasting an impressive attack with the likes of Bradley Barcola, new signing Joao Neves, who already has four assists in four league games, and Ousmane Dembele.
No player made more passes breaking the opposition's defensive line than the Frenchman (21) in the Champions League last season.
"I have always wanted my players to be motivated for every game. I can use each of the six forwards we have," Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.
"They are ready, and we're a versatile team, and it's great to have all those options because the season is going to be long.
"We need to create our own stars. We need to adapt, convince the players of the way to play. I'm very motivated, and I'm delighted to have the club's trust, and I'm trying to repay them by delivering results. We have a clear project that was set out last season."
PSG captain Marquinhos added: "We always have the target of going deep into the competition. I think my team-mates are the best in the world, even if there are no big names or stars, I am proud of my team."
Midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha have returned from injury, though goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been ruled out with a thigh injury and 25-year-old Russian Matvey Safonov could therefore be handed his first start.
Luis Enrique noted he was pleased with the squad, and it was too early to jump to conclusions about their lack of experience.
"I don't put any limits on my players. Experience is important, but I see many experienced players making the same mistakes. It's difficult to calculate the percentage of experience needed," he added.
"I think we are selfish as coaches. We always want the team to win. It will take a few months, and we will see how the team evolves and develops."
Luis Enrique heaped praise on Girona coach Michel, who led his team to a surprise third-place finish in LaLiga last season.
"I must acknowledge that no one expected to see them here. It is their first time, but I watched all their games last season, they play great football," he said.
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