GARY LINEKER HAS LAID DOWN THE GAUNTLET – and it's a challenge Harry Kane is more than happy to accept! The England captain has equalled Lineker's long-standing record of 10 World Cup goals, netting twice in the thrilling 4-2 opening victory over Croatia. And with his latest milestone secured, Lineker has hailed him as 'the greatest English striker we've ever had' – a claim that's sure to send shivers down the spines of England fans everywhere.
Kane, aged 32, joined an elite club in his third World Cup tournament, having previously featured in Russia in 2018 and Qatar four years ago. Lineker, meanwhile, accumulated his 10 goals across the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and Italia 90 – a feat that's taken Kane half as long to achieve. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker poked fun at the 'double-figures club', but soon got serious about Kane's exceptional talent.
And it's not just his World Cup exploits that make Kane a legend in his own right – he already holds the record as England's all-time leading goalscorer with an impressive 81 goals in 115 international appearances. His latest goals against Croatia were a masterclass in finishing, with a retaken penalty early in the first half and a powerful header just three minutes before the break that restored England's lead.
But what really sets Kane apart from his peers? Lineker believes it's his all-round game – a quality that makes him a nightmare for opponents to deal with. And it's not just Lineker who thinks so – Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, despite being omitted from the squad for this tournament, described Kane as 'one of the best players in the world' and England's standout performer.
As England prepare for their second group fixture against Ghana on June 23, one thing is certain: Kane will be leading by example – and Lineker's praise has only added fuel to the fire. Can he go on to break Lineker's record? The football world can't wait to find out.
Meanwhile, it's been a thrilling start to the tournament with global superstars like Lionel Messi scoring a hat-trick for Argentina, Kylian Mbappé netting twice for France, and Erling Haaland bagging a brace for Norway. But Kane's achievement has sent shockwaves through the football community – and it's only a matter of time before he surpasses Lineker's record.