Harry Kane has spent years terrorizing goalkeepers, but on Saturday the soccer superstar became the punchline for NFL fans after a brutal penalty miss in England's UEFA Nations League showdown with Spain.
In the 54th minute, Kane stepped up to the spot with a chance to make his mark. Instead, his plant foot gave way, and the ball clanged off the crossbar. It was the kind of slip that turns a highlight reel into a blooper reel.
Fox Soccer captured the moment on X: "Harry Kane slips on the penalty attempt and sends it off the crossbar."
For most players, a missed penalty is just part of the game. But Kane isn't most players right now. Earlier this month, he made headlines by declaring he wants to pursue an NFL career as a kicker once his soccer days are done. That comment turned Saturday's misfire into a field day for critics.
NFL Fans Pounce on Kane's Mishap
The internet wasted no time connecting the dots. Taylor Twellman, a former USMNT star turned analyst, didn't hold back: "Same technique as field goals…..his words not mine."
Alexi Lalas, never one to shy away from a hot take, piled on: "Just lost the AFC East."
Other fans chimed in with jokes of their own. One wrote, "They think this guy can handle the pressure of being a kicker in the NFL." Another quipped, "Already practicing his three pointers." A third added, "This guy wants to kick field goals every weekend."
The mockery wasn't just about one miss. It was about the gap between Kane's lofty NFL talk and the reality of a sport where kicking a differently shaped ball, wearing pads, and facing 300-pound linemen is a whole different beast.
Kane, 33, is one of the greatest strikers of his generation. He's scored over 440 club goals and a record 86 for England. He's also a passionate NFL fan who has openly mused about trying out for a team. But at his age, most NFL players are already retired, not just starting out. And as Saturday showed, even the best soccer players can slip under pressure.
For now, Kane's NFL dream remains just that—a dream. And after this weekend, he might want to focus on perfecting his penalty kicks before thinking about field goals. Because if he can't handle the pressure from 12 yards out, the idea of lining up a 50-yarder with a game on the line seems even more far-fetched.
As one fan put it, maybe it's time to let go of the NFL fantasy. Or at least until he can stay on his feet.
