Harry Kane Breaks England Cap Record, Leads Team to Quarter-Finals

Harry Kane became England’s most-capped men’s player on Thursday, leading his side to a 2-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley Stadium to secure a spot in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

A Record-Breaking Night at Wembley

Kane reached his 126th international appearance, surpassing the previous record of 125 games held by legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton since 1989. Croatian captain Luka Modrić, who played alongside Kane at Tottenham between 2009 and 2012, also gifted his friend a replica of the first football brought to his country by English workers in 1880.

The match determined the direction of England's Nations League campaign. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring in the 24th minute after connecting with a pass from Jude Bellingham, which had been set up by Kane.

Kane Aims for 100 England Goals

Reflecting on his milestone, Kane emphasized his desire to keep competing at the highest level for as long as possible. He said that he draws inspiration from the 41-year-old Modrić, adding, “This inspires me to push the limits of my capabilities.”

Kane, who was recently awarded the 2026 Ballon d’Or—becoming the first Englishman to win the honor since Michael Owen in 2001—currently holds the record for the most goals scored for England with 92.

Despite his individual success, he remains focused on team achievements, stating, “I want to reach 100 goals with England as soon as possible.” He also challenged younger teammates like Bellingham and Declan Rice, who have already surpassed 60 caps, to keep building their own legacies.

England Seeks Group Victory Against Spain

With this victory, England sits in second place in Group 3 with 12 points. Spain, which has already qualified, leads the group with 15 points following their 2-0 win over the Czech Republic.

The two sides are set to meet in Madrid this coming Sunday to determine the final group winner. England coach Thomas Tuchel, while remaining cautious about labeling Kane the greatest in the country’s history, said that the striker remains the perfect captain and role model on the pitch.

He added that after their previous loss to Spain, the squad is confident in their ability to perform better in the final round of group matches.

More on this story: Harry Kane Breaks Peter Shilton’s Record to Become England’s Most-Capped Player