With 78 goals by the age of 23, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is eyeing Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League scoring record.
"His 260 goals is an unbelievable achievement," Kane said of Shearer on Sunday after claiming his second successive PL Golden Boot. "It's something I'd like to break but I've got a long way to go yet."
He has a long way to go, 182 more goals, to be precise, to match Shearer's total of 260.
But the rate at which Kane is scoring suggests he will catch the former Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United forward, injuries permitting, and has every chance to set a record that will be viewed as unmatchable in the same way that Shearer’s was.
Congratulations on another golden boot. Keep going and I might start worrying! 🙋🏼♂️ https://t.co/WFua2Bbskz
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) May 21, 2017
Kane's 78 goals have come in 116 appearances, giving him a rate of 0.67 goals per match.
At that rate, he would need to play a further 272 Premier League matches to score the 182 goals to catch Shearer.
Since Kane has made on average of 34 appearances a season since the start of 2014/15 he would reach 388 PL appearances by the end of 2024/25.
Were he to maintain his rate of goals per season and retire at the same age as Shearer did Kane would reach 345 goals.
Another Golden Boot for @HKane! Enjoy all 29 of his @PremierLeague goals in 2016/17 in just over 100 seconds... #OneOfOurOwn pic.twitter.com/ggIrbsN1hV
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 24, 2017