'Phenomenon' Kane is the best striker in the world, says Martinez

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez believes "phenomenon" Harry Kane is the best striker in the world.

Kane has enjoyed a stellar 2025-26, helping Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga, and the Bavarian club could still complete a domestic double when they face Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final on Saturday.

Bayern won the league title while scoring 122 goals, a new Bundesliga record, with Kane responsible for 36 of those. 

Kane scored 17 more goals in this Bundesliga season than Golden Boot runner-up Deniz Undav (19), the largest such margin in 54 years. In 1971-72, Gerd Muller netted 40 goals, with Klaus Fischer and Hans Walitza following at 22 each.

Overall, Kane has scored 58 goals across all competitions this season in 50 games (not including the Club World Cup), the most of any player across Europe's top five leagues.

When asked who the best striker in the world is, Martinez told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Harry Kane.

"I even put him ahead of Haaland for the way he controls the ball, the way he links up and reads the game, and his headers. A phenomenon."

Martinez, meanwhile, has scored 22 goals across 40 games in all competitions in 2025-26.

He is the top scorer in Serie A this season, with 17 goals, while he has led Inter to their first domestic double since 2010.

Former Inter boss Jose Mourinho claimed none of the current Inter side would start in his treble-winning side, though Martinez did not give much thought to the comments.

"Everyone has their own ideas," said Martinez. It doesn’t make much sense to me to compare footballers from different eras.

"The important thing is to think about the good of Inter without listening too much to the chatter. You have to live in the present, which is a lot."