Harry Kane Matches Gary Lineker's England World Cup Goal Record with Two Against Croatia

Harry Kane Equals England’s World Cup Scoring Record

Harry Kane matched Gary Lineker’s record for the most goals scored by an England player at the World Cup during the first half against Croatia. The Bayern Munich striker scored twice in Dallas, bringing his World Cup tally to ten.

Kane opened the scoring with a penalty after retaking his missed spot-kick due to encroachment. He then powered home a header to give England a 2-1 lead, leveling Lineker’s long-standing mark and increasing his total goals for England to 81.

Despite Kane’s efforts, Croatia equalized right before halftime through Petar Musa, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2. Shortly after the restart, Jude Bellingham put England back ahead with a sharp finish from a tight angle.

Kane’s Remarkable Season Continues

Kane’s performance followed an extraordinary season at Bayern, where he netted 61 goals and played a key role in securing the Bundesliga title. His overall scoring record for Bayern stands at 146 goals in 147 games, an astonishing strike rate.

He is now just one goal shy of becoming England’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup and may well surpass that soon. Kane is six goals behind the joint all-time World Cup leading scorers, Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose.

With 115 caps for England, Kane’s place as the nation’s leading scorer is clear, having surpassed Wayne Rooney’s previous record of 53 goals.

Match Highlights: England vs Croatia

The match kicked off England’s 2026 World Cup campaign with excitement in Dallas. Kane’s first goal came after a retaken penalty due to Croatian encroachment. Croatia responded with Martin Baturina’s sharp strike, leveling the score temporarily.

Kane then headed in a Declan Rice corner to regain the lead. But just before halftime, Petar Musa completed a slick move to make it 2-2. England appeared more focused after the break, dominating possession and chances.

Bellingham broke through Croatia’s defense and fired a stunning solo goal to make it 3-2. Marcus Rashford sealed the victory by curling a precise shot into the corner, finishing a confident 4-2 win for England.

Looking Ahead

Kane has been mentioned among potential Ballon d’Or contenders later this year, although competition from players like Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Lamine Yamal will be fierce.

If England progress deep into the tournament or even claim the title, Kane’s chances of winning such honors will grow. His two goals set the tone for the match and helped England overcome a spirited Croatian team.

While questions remain about Thomas Tuchel’s defensive setup, England’s attack is firing strongly in the US, with Kane and Bellingham leading the charge.