Kane's Record-Equaling World Cup Goals
Harry Kane Scores Two Against Croatia, Matching England's World Cup Goal Record
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Harry Kane scored twice in England's 4-2 World Cup opener against Croatia on June 17, 2026, bringing his career World Cup total to 10 goals and equaling Gary Lineker's long-standing English record, according to AP. The win was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — and it came against the same Croatia side that knocked England out of the 2018 semifinals.
Kane now has 81 international goals in total, extending his lead as England's all-time top scorer. He is also the first English player ever to score multiple goals in three separate World Cups, AP reported.
Two Penalties, One Record-Tying Header
Kane's first goal came from the penalty spot in the 12th minute. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković saved the initial kick, but a VAR review found the keeper had moved too early. Kane stepped up again and didn't miss, according to AP.
His second goal was a thumping header from a Declan Rice corner in the 42nd minute. That strike tied Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals — a mark set across the 1986 and 1990 tournaments, The Times of India reported. Kane called the 10-goal milestone significant but said the team's focus remained on winning England's first major trophy in 60 years.
Croatia Fought Back But England Held On
Croatia made it a game. Martin Baturina equalized in the 36th minute with a curled strike past Jordan Pickford. Petar Musa then scored in stoppage time to make it 2-2 at halftime, according to AP.
Jude Bellingham restored England's lead just two minutes into the second half, finding the far post. Marcus Rashford sealed it at 4-2 in the 85th minute. England manager Thomas Tuchel was still critical after the win, reportedly telling Pickford to "do as I told you" regarding his distribution, Goal.com noted.
Kane Joins Lineker After 36-Year Wait
Gary Lineker scored 6 goals at the 1986 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot, then added 4 more in 1990. No English player matched his 10-goal total for 36 years. Kane broke through that barrier with a brace in a single match, according to The Times of India.
Kane scored 6 goals at the 2018 World Cup, also winning the Golden Boot. He added 2 more in 2022 and now 2 in 2026. His consistency across three tournaments is unmatched in English football history, AP reported.
Golden Boot Race and What Comes Next for England
Kane currently has 2 goals in the tournament. He trails Lionel Messi, who has 3, in the early race for the 2026 Golden Boot, according to NBC Sports. Kane is also just one goal away from holding the English World Cup record outright.
England sits atop Group L with 3 points and a +2 goal difference. Their next matches are against Ghana and Panama — both seen as winnable games. But analysts at Goal.com warned that England's defensive shape in the first half showed real weaknesses that stronger teams could exploit later in the tournament.
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