‘Captain fantastic’: Harry Kane’s most memorable England goals

Harry Kane spoke of his pride after becoming England’s all-time record goalscorer. In the 2-1 victory over Italy last night the Tottenham striker netted a first-half penalty as England got their European Championship qualifying campaign off to a great start. Kane’s spot-kick was his 54th goal in 81 games for the Three Lions and he is now one clear of previous record holder Wayne Rooney.

England’s captain had the chance to break the record in the World Cup clash against France in December. He missed the crucial penalty in the quarter-final defeat in Qatar, but made no mistake from the spot in Naples.

It was a “really special night” and “I am really proud”, Kane said after the match. Thanking everyone for making “this dream become a reality”, he had “a feeling” he would break the record from the spot, especially after the miss against the French. “It had to be a penalty,” he added. “Thankfully I put it away. I was really disappointed with how the World Cup ended. It feels like forever since I last put on an England shirt. I was itching to get out there. It was a great feeling to see that hit the back of the net.”

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“Remarkably”, the 29-year-old has reached the 54-goal tally in “39 fewer games than it took Rooney”, said Phil Dawkes on BBC Sport. Just six Englishmen have scored 40 or more goals for their country and “what marks Kane out among this group” is “the speed at which he has scored his goals”. He has a scoring rate of one goal every 1.5 games for England.

Here we look at England’s all-time leading men’s goalscorers and the most memorable goals and moments from Kane’s international career.

England’s all-time leading men’s goalscorers

27 March 2015: debut goal after 79 seconds against Lithuania

It took Kane just 79 seconds to open his goal account for the Three Lions. Making his senior debut against Lithuania at Wembley on 27 March 2015, the then-21-year-old came on as a sub in the European qualifier and scored with a header. That game saw him replace Rooney on the pitch, “a substitution that now seems to hold greater significance eight years on”, said Opta Analyst.

10 June 2017: equaliser stuns Scotland at Hampden

Hampden Park in Glasgow was rocking as two free-kicks by Leigh Griffiths put Scotland within moments of a memorable victory against their old rivals. But “cue Kane” and his “knack of knowing how to find the back of the net”, said Mark Mann-Bryans of the Press Association. Handed the captain’s armband by Gareth Southgate ahead of the 2-2 draw, Kane showed “why he is the man for the big occasion” by volleying home an equaliser in the 93rd minute.

2018 World Cup: six goals and the golden boot

Kane emulated Gary Lineker by winning the Fifa World Cup golden boot. In the 2018 tournament in Russia, the striker showcased “his prowess on the world stage” with six goals as England reached the semi-finals, said Damian Mannion on talkSPORT. In the group stage Kane scored a hat-trick against Panama and two against Tunisia, then in the round of 16 added to his tally against Colombia.

Euro 2020: back to his ‘goalscoring best’

At the 2020 Uefa European Championship, played in summer 2021 due to Covid, Kane “struggled to find his form in front of goal” during the group stage, said Albert Pearson on Planet Sport. But in the knockout stages England’s “captain fantastic” was “back to his goalscoring best” with a header against Germany in the round of 16, two against Ukraine in the quarter-final, and the extra-time winning penalty against Denmark in the semi-final. Kane ended the tournament with four goals as England finished runners-up following a penalty shoot-out loss against Italy at Wembley.

23 March 2023: Kane spot-on in Naples

The ball that Kane had “sent into the night sky” from the penalty spot against France in Qatar three months ago is “still out there somewhere, floating in the desert air”, said Barney Ronay in The Guardian. But when his moment came in Naples, “he wasn’t going to miss this”. Former record holder Rooney led the plaudits as Kane scored his milestone 54th goal. “I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick,” Rooney tweeted. “Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend.”