Harry Kane One Cap Away From Matching Peter Shilton's England Record

Seventy nine seconds. That's how long it took Harry Kane to score the first time he stepped onto the pitch wearing an England shirt. It happened in March 2015, against Lithuania, when he was just 21 and had barely come off the bench. Eleven years later, that kid who scored on his debut has become something far bigger than a nice piece of trivia: he is England's all time leading scorer and its captain.

If he plays any minutes this Tuesday against the Czech Republic at Wembley, Kane will match another towering milestone: Peter Shilton's 125 caps, the all time record for England appearances. And given how hungry he still is, it doesn't look like he'll stay level with that number for long.

From Tottenham prospect to the 2018 World Cup

That debut goal was no fluke. Then England manager Roy Hodgson called it a real "fairy tale," and he was right about one thing: it was only the first of many. Kane earned that call up on the back of a brilliant 2014-15 season with Tottenham, and he hasn't stopped scoring for his country since.

He went without a goal at Euro 2016, but two years later came his breakout tournament in front of goal. At the 2018 World Cup, in England's opener against Tunisia, he needed just 11 minutes to open his account at a major tournament, then struck again in stoppage time for a brace that spared England an uncomfortable draw. He finished that tournament with six goals and the Golden Boot, as the Three Lions reached the semifinals before falling to Croatia.

The armband and surpassing Rooney

That same year, 2018, brought another landmark: Kane was named England captain for the first time. He hasn't given up the armband at a major tournament since, leading the team to the final of the delayed Euro 2020, the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the final of Euro 2024 and the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. He has now captained the side 87 times, just three shy of matching the joint record held by Billy Wright and Bobby Moore.

But perhaps his most memorable feat is overtaking Wayne Rooney as England's all time top scorer. Rooney retired with 53 goals in 120 appearances, his final goal having come in that painful Euro 2016 exit against Iceland. Kane equaled that mark with a penalty against France in the quarterfinals of the Qatar World Cup, though he could have broken it in that same match with another spot kick that sailed over the bar. He had to wait until March 2023, in Euro 2024 qualifying against Italy, to convert a penalty for goal number 54 and stand alone at the top. He hasn't stopped pulling away ever since: his tally now stands at 89 goals in 124 appearances.

The king of the World Cup

This summer, at the 2026 World Cup, Kane added another chapter to his legend by passing Gary Lineker as England's all time leading scorer at World Cups. He got there with a goal against Panama in the group stage, in a 2-0 win. Lineker had finished his career with 10 World Cup goals; Kane is already up to 14, after scoring six at this latest edition.

Only one thing is missing, and the whole country knows it: a trophy. England hasn't won anything since that 1966 World Cup, and while that burden shouldn't fall on Kane's shoulders alone, lifting a trophy would be the perfect finishing touch to a career that is already historic in its own right. Will he get there at Euro 2028? Could he even still be playing at the 2030 World Cup at age 36? After all, Lionel Messi lifted a World Cup at 35 and nearly repeated the feat at 39 this summer. If Kane ends his international career without that trophy, he will still go down as one of the finest players England has ever produced, and it may be a long time before another English striker like him comes along.