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Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane says he is motivated by a desire to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Barcelona forward Messi, who have won the last nine Ballon d'Or crowns between them, have redefined goal scoring in the last decade but Kane's own statistics, particularly in this calendar year, are comparable to those of the La Liga legends. Since the 24-year-old broke through at Tottenham in 2014-15, he has scored 79 league goals in 108 matches, twice winning the Premier League Golden Boot. In the same period, Messi has 115 in 111 and Ronaldo 108 in 102. Kane has a better shots-to-goals ratio than Ronaldo in that time and it is only slightly inferior to that of Messi. In 2017, Kane has 25 league goals in 23 games to Messi's 34 in 27 and Ronaldo's 15 in 20, and the Spurs forward boasts a better shots-to-goals ratio than both of them. "With social media these days, it's difficult to stay away from the stats," Kane said. "Everyone is tweeting this thing or that thing and you see it. I want to be one of the best players in the world, so when people put stuff up and I see I am close to those players [Messi and Ronaldo] it is a great incentive to get even closer and go to the next step. "I use it, yes. Staying consistent at the top level is what it's all about. "I want to be one of the best in the world. To do that you have to stay up with the best. I want to score goals and maintain my form. That is what it is about, staying consistent at the top level." Kane has scored in his last three Champions League appearances, including a double against Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago, and he will aim to score again in Tuesday's match against Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus. He still has some way to go before he can emulate Messi and Ronaldo in that competition, however, where Messi has scored 96 goals in 116 Champions League games and Ronaldo has 107 in 141. But Kane said: "I am growing up, getting older and more mature. "I feel stronger, I am holding off defenders better than I was before, eating well and recovering well. That is what it is all about. A football career is a short career, so you have got to make the most of every week every day."
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