Kane breaks goal record as England top group

June 28, 2026 No Comments

Harry Kane breaks England World Cup goal record vs. PanamaESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsJun 27, 2026, 07:05 PM ET

Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup by finding the net in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Jude Bellingham also scored for England in a victory that verified they will advance to the knockout stage as group winners.

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Kane nodded home from a Bellingham cross to make it 2-0 — taking him to 11 World Cup goals, one beyond Gary Lineker’s previous England men’s record.

It also took Kane to 18 goals in major international tournaments for England.

“Our first job achieved,” Bellingham mentioned. “Just a good combination of play. To give it to Harry again, who just continues to raise his level, is incredible.”

The England captain had drawn level with Lineker after scoring twice in the 4-2 win over Croatia to open the campaign.

Harry Kane celebrates his record-breaking goal in England’s win over Panama. Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty ImagesLineker himself described Kane as the “greatest English striker we’ve ever had” after his brace in the team’s first match of the tournament.

His 82nd international goal takes him level with Jurgen Klinsmann and Sandor Kocsis at 11 World Cup goals, and Kane will be hoping to climb the list further by going on a deep run in the tournament.

Kane won the Golden Boot in 2018 in Russia when he scored six goals during England’s run to the semifinal, including a hat trick against Panama.

He then bagged another two during the Qatar edition in 2022 but missed a penalty against France in the quarterfinal defeat.

Lineker scored his 10 goals in two tournaments, winning the Golden Boot with six at Mexico in 1986 before adding four at Italy in 1990.

Kane’s goal against Panama keeps him in the frame to become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice as he sits two behind Lionel Messi at five, with Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembélé and Vinícius Júnior at four.

Kane’s newest landmark comes after a remarkable campaign at Bayern Munich, with the striker now at 70 goals for the season for club and country.

After topping their group, England will face a third-place team from Group I or K, likely to be Senegal or Congo DR, in the round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday.

PA and The Associated Press contributed to this report.