England captain Harry Kane has drawn level with Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals, prompting the former striker to make a remarkable declaration about his successor.
Kane, 32, netted twice as England opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in Group L, played in Dallas.
Lineker, 65, accumulated his 10 World Cup goals across the 1986 tournament in Mexico and Italia 90, a feat that stood as England’s benchmark for decades.
Kane, now appearing at his third World Cup having previously featured in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022, matched that landmark in stunning fashion.
“Welcome to the double-figures club. It’s great. I mean, it may have taken him a World Cup more,” Lineker joked on The Rest is Football podcast.
He then delivered a verdict that will resonate across English football for years to come, stating: “In all seriousness, Harry Kane is, I think, the greatest English striker we’ve ever had. I genuinely think that now.”
Kane now stands as England’s all-time leading scorer with 81 goals from 115 international appearances, a staggering contribution to the national side.
Against Croatia, the Bayern Munich forward gave England the lead with a retaken penalty early in the first half, before adding a powerful header to restore the advantage three minutes before the break.
Lineker was generous in his praise beyond just the goals, adding: “I’m absolutely delighted that Kane equalled my record. His all-round game is, for me, what separates him from all the others.”
Kane’s performance arrived on a night when Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick for Argentina against Algeria, Kylian Mbappe netted twice for France against Senegal, and Erling Haaland also grabbed a brace in Norway’s win over Iran.
Lineker’s co-host Alan Shearer, who scored 30 goals for England including two at the 1998 World Cup, warned that the record will not stand for much longer.
Shearer said: “Harry Kane has seen Messi, Mbappe and Haaland all come on straight away and get the goals. It’s only a matter of time before he breaks your record.”
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, absent from Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s tournament, added further weight to the growing chorus of admiration for Kane.
Maguire said Kane is not just England’s best player but “one of the best players in the world”, adding: “You can’t speak highly enough of him. On the pitch, he’s unbelievable, but, off the pitch, he’s a massive leader.”
England’s next test comes on 23 June when they face Ghana in their second Group L fixture, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 BST.
