Harry Kane Achieves Historic Milestone as England's Top World Cup Scorer

Harry Kane has made history by becoming England's all-time leading men's goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. After a decisive 2-0 victory over Panama, Kane expressed his pride in achieving this milestone. His record-breaking goal, which took his World Cup tally to 11, surpassed Gary Lineker's previous record. England's journey continues as they prepare to face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the knockout stage. With Kane in exceptional form, he aims to secure the Golden Boot for the second time. Read on to discover more about this historic achievement and what lies ahead for the England team.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 28, 2026, 09:07 IST

Kane's Historic Achievement

In a remarkable display at MetLife Stadium, England's captain Harry Kane celebrated becoming the nation's all-time leading men's goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. This achievement came after he played a pivotal role in England's 2-0 victory over Panama, securing the top position in Group L.

Following the match, Kane expressed his pride on social media, stating, "A solid performance, a clean sheet, and we’re at the top of the group. Moving on to the Round of 32. It’s a proud moment for me to become England's all-time leading scorer at the @fifaworldcup; it’s a special milestone to achieve."

Kane's record-breaking goal arrived in the 68th minute when he headed in England's second goal, bringing his World Cup total to 11 and surpassing Gary Lineker's previous record of 10. This marked Kane's third goal in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

After a scoreless first half, England broke through in the second half, with Jude Bellingham scoring the opener in the 62nd minute, reacting swiftly to a corner kick. Just six minutes later, Bellingham assisted Kane with a precise cross, allowing Kane to head the ball into the net, doubling England's lead.

This victory confirmed Thomas Tuchel's squad finished first in Group L with seven points, following a 4-2 win against Croatia and a goalless draw with Ghana.

Next, England will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday (local time).

Kane's latest goal also increased his tally to 18 goals in major international tournaments for England, maintaining his status as the country's all-time leading scorer with 82 goals in 117 matches.

At 32, Kane previously won the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, scoring six goals as England reached the semifinals. He scored twice in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but faced disappointment after missing a crucial penalty in the quarterfinals against France.

With 11 World Cup goals, Kane is now tied with German legend Jurgen Klinsmann and Hungarian great Sandor Kocsis in the tournament's all-time scoring list.

Kane is in strong contention to become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot twice, currently holding three goals in this tournament, trailing behind Lionel Messi's five and Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, and Vinicius Junior, who each have four.

As the knockout rounds approach, Kane is in exceptional form, having scored 70 goals for both club and country during an impressive season with Bayern Munich and the England national team.