Harry Kane wrote his name into the English football folklore on Saturday, shattering the nation's record for most World Cup goals. With a thunderous header from Jude Bellingham's pinpoint cross, he sealed England's 2-0 victory against Panama and broke Gary Lineker's longstanding mark of 10 tournament goals.
That goal, his 11th in World Cup history, was the icing on the cake of an impressive display by the England captain. His record-breaking strike not only secured their spot in the last 32 but also reinforced his status as one of the deadliest strikers on the global stage. Kane's tally now stands at three goals in this tournament, a testament to his unrelenting form and ability to rise to the biggest occasions.
As he celebrated breaking the record with his teammates, Kane spoke to BBC Sport about the significance of the achievement, saying, "It's a proud moment for sure. I said before the tournament that the World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport, so to reach 11 goals is an incredible feeling." With humility and dedication etched on his face, he added, "I never take these moments for granted – it's another milestone to add to my collection, but I hope there are more to come in this tournament."
With his latest feat, Kane has cemented his place alongside David Beckham as one of only two England men's players to score in three different World Cups. The former record holder Lineker recently hailed Kane as "the greatest English striker we've ever had," and with each new goal, he inches closer to some of the sport's most iconic figures.
While Kane has broken national records, he still has a formidable challenge ahead if he's to dethrone Argentina's Lionel Messi, who tops the all-time World Cup goalscoring list with 18. Having surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo (10) and trailed only four behind Brazil's Ronaldo (15), his sights are now firmly set on Brazil's Romário and, ultimately, Pelé – the Brazilian legend who scored an astonishing 12 goals in just 16 World Cup appearances.
Kane has already proven himself as one of England's greatest strikers, but with England progressing in the tournament, he'll have more opportunities to add to his tally and propel himself into the pantheon of World Cup greats. The question on everyone's lips now: can Kane close the gap to Messi and secure a place among the all-time legends? Only time will tell.