Update, 20 August 2026. This piece was written the morning after the record fell
and describes the moment it happened. Kane went on to finish the tournament on
14 World Cup goals in 18 matches, joint-fifth on the all-time list. The figures
below are the ones from that night, not his final total.
Harry Kane became England's all-time top scorer
at World Cups last night, heading home against Panama
to score his 11th goal at the tournament —
surpassing the record of ten held by Gary Lineker
since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
The Record-Breaking Moment
Kane's header in England's 2-0 win over Panama
in their final Group L match came after
Jude Bellingham had opened the scoring.
The goal moved Kane clear as England's greatest
ever World Cup scorer.
| Player | World Cup Goals | Years Active |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | 11 | 2018-2026 |
| Gary Lineker | 10 | 1986-1990 |
| Geoff Hurst | 5 | 1966 |
| Raheem Sterling | 4 | 2018-2022 |
Kane's World Cup Goal Timeline
Kane first scored at a World Cup in Russia 2018,
finishing as the tournament's top scorer
with six goals including a hat-trick against Panama.
In Qatar 2022 he scored three goals in four matches.
In the 2026 tournament in North America he has
already scored twice in the group stage.
England Next Match
England face DR Congo in the Round of 32
on Wednesday July 1 at 5pm BST in Atlanta —
live free on BBC One.
Kane will be looking to add to his record
as England pursue a first World Cup final
since 1966.
Where England's World Cup Matches Were Broadcast
England's 2026 World Cup fixtures were shown free-to-air in the UK, split between
BBC One/BBC iPlayer and ITV1/ITVX under the Ofcom "Listed Events" rules, which
guarantee free coverage of England's tournament matches.
Full World Cup 2026 results and broadcast archive →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Cup goals has Harry Kane scored?
11 — after his header against Panama on June 27.
Who held the England World Cup goals record before Kane?
Gary Lineker, who scored ten World Cup goals
across the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.
When did Kane break the record?
June 27 2026 against Panama in Houston,
during England's final Group L match
at the 2026 World Cup.
How many World Cup goals did Gary Lineker score?
Ten. Six in Mexico 1986 (earning the Golden Boot)
and four in Italy 1990.
Will Kane become World Cup all-time top scorer?
Not soon. Kane finished the 2026 tournament on 14 goals
in 18 matches, joint-fifth on the all-time list.
Kylian Mbappe now leads it with 22, ahead of
Lionel Messi on 21; Miroslav Klose, who held the record
for twelve years on 16, was passed twice during 2026.
Kane would need nine more to go top.
Checked 20 August 2026 against
FOX Sports
and England Football.