Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been the first player in 22 years to win the Premier League Golden Boot while still leading the league in assists.
In Sunday’s match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, the England international, who has recently expressed his wish for a new adventure outside of north London, scored his 23rd goal of the season.
Jamie Vardy scored the game’s first goal from the penalty spot, but Kane equalized with a superb volley that sailed through Kasper Schmeichel’s legs and into the net just before halftime.
Vardy added a second penalty to put Leicester in contention for a Champions League berth, but an own goal by Schmeichel leveled the scores before Kane set up substitute Gareth Bale to hand Spurs victory, with the Welshman netting a second late to make it 4-2.
Kane’s closest rival was Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who had been tied with Kane heading into the final day, but the Egyptian struggled to score despite the Reds winning 2-0 against Crystal Palace. Kane’s latest strike and assist push him to 37 Premier League goal involvements this season. Surpassing his career’s highest total in a single season (36 in 2016/17). Across all games, he has 44 target involvements.
The 27-year-old has now captured the Golden Boot three times in his career. This ties him with Alan Shearer for the most time. Only Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has won it more times (four times). But Kane has done something Henry has never done. In addition to winning the Golden Boot, he has also led the assists charts this season.
Kane has been named Playmaker of the Season for his 14 assists. This puts him ahead of Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne (both 12).
Just two other players have ever led the league in goals and assists in the same season. Andy Cole in 1993/94, scored 34 goals and added 13 assists. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 1998/99, who scored 18 goals and added 13 assists.
Henry, Didier Drogba, and Robin van Persie are three other players who have led the league in goals and assists in different seasons but not in the same season.
Kane had a fantastic season and demonstrated his class in what may have been his last appearance for the club. Despite Spurs’ poor season. The poor season saw them finish seventh and only qualify for the Europa League.
