Why a Brazil superstar called Billy Sharp "Harry Kane" | OneFootball

Former Bayern Munich and Juventus wideman Douglas Costa had a unique nickname for Billy Sharp while they played for LA Galaxy

There hasn't been a more iconic EFL frontman over the years than Billy Sharp.

The 40-year-old holds the record for the most goals in Championship history with 130 and is in the top five all-time scorers in League One with 111.

If his time in League Two hadn't consisted of his first and, currently, penultimate campaign of his career, he'd likely be even further up that goalscoring chain, too. In the end, he'll settle for being one of the best to ever do it in the second and third tiers.

But Sharp's career hasn't completely consisted of appearances in the EFL, albeit it's very close to having done so. Indeed, aged 37, Sharp made the move Stateside after his contract with Sheffield United ran out, signing with LA Galaxy until the end of the 2023 campaign.

It was there that a former three-time Bundesliga and three-time Serie A champion gave him a rather interesting nickname.

Billy Sharp's time in the MLS

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Sharp didn't spend long at all with LA Galaxy, only playing 12 times for the side that came second-bottom in the Western Conference that year.

However, he showed his class almost immediately, netting off the bench in his debut — a 3-0 win over Chicago Fire. He'd come off the bench three more times after that, scoring a late equaliser against St. Louis City.

That earned him his first start in the LA derby, in which he scored again, and in his second-ever MLS start, he bagged a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Minnesota United, taking his tally to six goals in six games.

Unfortunately, those were the last goals he scored, and that game was the last they won, as the Galaxy went winless in their last six. Nevertheless, six goals in 12 games wasn't a bad return for the 37-year-old.

Douglas Costa called Billy Sharp 'Harry Kane' while at LA Galaxy

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Despite the poor season, the 2023 LA Galaxy squad had some recognisable names in it, such as former Southampton defender Maya Yoshida, ex-Manchester United frontman Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and 116-capped Uruguay international Martin Caceres.

Above all, though, was former Shkhtar Donetsk, Bayern Munich and Juventus superstar winger Douglas Costa, who, rather strangely, knew of Sharp ahead of him joining the club.

Speaking to the EFL back in March, Sharp told the story of how he found himself playing in the MLS and how the former Brazilian international called him Harry Kane due to his goalscoring knack.

"I got a message out of the blue from James Beattie, and he said someone at LA Galaxy wants to give you a text [...] it was the fitness coach who used to work at Sheffield United, and he just asked if I would fancy coming over," he said.

"It happened really quickly. I told the kids, the oldest started crying, and then we got on the plane and landed in LA.

"I went in the next day, and when I walked in the changing room Douglas Costa shouted by name, 'Billy Sharp!'. I was like, what?

"He used to call me Harry Kane because I think he stands around the goal scoring like I do."

Billy Sharp returned to the EFL after four months

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Sharp's time in the MLS was short-lived. His deal had an option to sign on for the 2024 campaign, but the veteran frontman was back in the EFL in January 2024, signing for a Hull City side challenging for the play-offs under Liam Rosenior.

"It was really cool to experience, just to even be around people like that was amazing. It was short but sweet in the MLS, and I enjoyed it before coming back to the EFL," Sharp said.

The 40-year-old struggled for games at the MKM Stadium, with the likes of Fabio Carvalho and Liam Delap ahead of him, scoring no goals in under 450 minutes of action in all competitions.

He was less so Harry Kane there, but his return to Doncaster Rovers that summer saw him rediscover his goalscoring touch.

Billy Sharp is still on the hunt for a new club, aged 40

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Despite 14 goals in all competitions last season and a hat-trick on the final day against Peterborough United, Sharp left Doncaster at the end of his contract in the summer, becoming a free agent for only the second time in his career.

The first time he was a free agent saw him sign for LA Galaxy, and while he admitted back in April that he could play for another year, the legendary EFL frontman is yet to find a new home for 2026/27.

Whether the 40-year-old finds somewhere new in the EFL or plays elsewhere, he can still score goals. He's one off reaching a mammoth 300 for his career, and it would be a real shame if he is unable to cross that number before he calls it a day.