Harry Kane Is One Game Away From England's All-Time Cap Record, and He Credits His Acupuncturist

Some games are won with cleats, and others, like Harry Kane's, are won on a treatment table too, with needles in the skin and a lot of patience. England's captain is one game away from becoming the most capped player in the history of the national team, and before reaching that milestone he wanted to take a moment to thank the man who, in his own words, gave him his career back.

Kane, 33, is currently tied for the all-time cap record with Peter Shilton. To break it, he just needs to step onto the Wembley pitch this Thursday in the Nations League clash against Croatia, where he'll earn his 126th appearance for the Three Lions.

The timing couldn't be better. Just a month ago, Kane picked up his first Ballon d'Or, and last week he signed a contract extension with Bayern Munich that puts him among the highest paid players in Europe. Since arriving from Tottenham in 2023 for 120 million euros (about $133 million), he has already won the Bundesliga twice with the Bavarian club.

But behind that consistency is a name the striker never tires of mentioning: Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, an acupuncture specialist who has worked with him since 2020 and who, despite living in Canada, flies in every month to treat him. It all started after an injury that nearly cost him his season.

I tore my hamstring pretty much off the bone in 2020. That was after suffering a lot of ankle injuries and never having had a full season while staying healthy. We got in touch around then and started working together a few months laterHarry Kane

Kane himself admits that the pandemic, for all the bad it brought, gave him something he needed without realizing it: time. "Covid meant I had about seven months between the injury and getting back to playing, which looking back maybe gave me the time I needed to go find help," he explained. Since then, the routine hasn't changed: several days a month of needle work and nervous system treatment.

Honestly, I don't know if I'd be at this point in my career without that work and without him. I think in the last seven years I've missed somewhere between 10 and 15 games, and in the seven years before that it was more like 60 to 70Harry Kane

A record that isn't enough

With 91 goals for the national team, already a record tally, Kane still hasn't lifted a major title with England. Two lost European Championship finals and, just this year, a semifinal exit at the World Cup against Argentina in Atlanta weigh on his record. That's why, when he talks about dreams, he isn't talking about numbers.

Winning a major trophy with England is my biggest dream. It always has been, whether that's the Euros, the World Cup, or hopefully both. I know how hard it is, so I'm very motivated to achieve itHarry Kane

On the milestone of passing Shilton, Kane doesn't hide what it means. "It's up there among the biggest milestones. I think it shows consistency at the highest level," he said, before turning his attention to what's next: 100 goals for England and, taking it step by step, continuing to add caps for as long as his body allows.

For the match against Croatia, England manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence will not be available, though both are expected to be ready in time for the next fixture against Spain.