EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Harry Kane made history as England‘s all-time leading World Cup scorer, scoring their second goal in a 2-0 victory against Panama at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for England in the 62nd minute before assisting Kane five minutes later, marking Kane’s 11th goal in World Cup history, surpassing Gary Lineker’s previous men’s record. This also marked Kane’s third goal in the current tournament.
With this win, England topped their group and advanced to the round of 32, where they will face Congo DR in Atlanta on Wednesday.
– Still uninspiring, but England avoid nightmare World Cup knockout scenario
– How teams can advance to the knockout rounds
– England RB issues deepen as Quansah limps off
“This is a proud moment for me,” Kane told the BBC. “Before the tournament, I mentioned how significant the World Cup is for us as professional footballers. Reaching 11 goals is a special feeling.”
“It’s hard to absorb, but I want to savor this moment with my teammates and enjoy being at the top of the table. I never take these moments for granted. It’s another significant milestone, and I hope to achieve more in this tournament.”
Kane has scored 18 goals in major international tournaments for England, and he holds the record for the most goals for the national team, netting 82 times in 116 appearances. He won the Golden Boot during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he scored six goals and helped England reach the semifinals.
His tally of 82 goals puts him level with Jurgen Klinsmann, while he also matched Sandor Kocsis’ record of 11 World Cup goals.
Lineker praised Kane as the “greatest English striker we’ve ever had” after he scored twice in England’s opening match of the tournament.
“It’s an honor to play alongside him,” said Bellingham. “He’s the greatest England player of all time; he consistently delivers more than anyone else.”
“His current form is incredible. You can always count on him to make a significant impact in the game.”
Kane found the net twice during the Qatar World Cup in 2022 but missed a penalty in the quarterfinal loss to France.
Lineker scored 10 goals across two tournaments, winning the Golden Boot with six goals in Mexico in 1986 and adding four in Italy in 1990.
“It’s fantastic that he has the chance to break this record at a World Cup. He shares this honor with us. Harry is in an amazing state of mind and physically fit,” remarked England manager Thomas Tuchel. “He is driven to achieve great things in this World Cup, showcasing his character and determination.”
Kane’s goal against Panama keeps him in contention to become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice; he is just two goals behind Lionel Messi, who leads with five goals, while Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vinícius Júnior each have four goals.
Kane’s latest achievement follows an impressive season with Bayern Munich, where he has accumulated 70 goals for both club and country this season.
PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.