Harry Kane Ties Gary Lineker’s England World Cup Record with Historic Brace Against Croatia

Harry Kane made history at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, scoring twice in the first half against Croatia to equal Gary Lineker’s all-time record of 10 World Cup goals for England. The 32-year-old Bayern Munich striker delivered a composed, clinical performance as Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory in Group L — a result that launches England into the knockout bracket conversation from day one.

Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with six goals, has now reached the same World Cup total as Lineker, who accumulated 10 goals across two tournaments — six in Mexico in 1986 and four more at Italia ’90. Where Lineker accomplished the feat across just two tournaments, Kane has now matched him in three, with this tournament still ahead of him.

A Record-Equaling Brace Before Halftime

Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Croatia were penalized inside the box. The initial kick was saved, but referee intervention — an encroachment call — handed Kane a second chance, and England’s captain made no mistake the second time, finding the net with precision. Croatia answered with a stunning Martin Baturina strike to level the score, but Kane restored England’s lead before halftime with a powerful header from a Declan Rice corner, leaving goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic rooted to the spot.

Petar Musa pulled Croatia level again to send the match into halftime deadlocked at 2-2, but the first half had already been defined by Kane’s historic double. Jude Bellingham settled the tie with a brilliant individual effort just moments after the restart — cutting inside before firing in off the post to put England ahead for good. Marcus Rashford added a fourth in the 85th minute to seal the convincing final scoreline.

The Records Kane Now Holds

Beyond drawing level with Lineker on 10 World Cup goals, Kane’s brace against Croatia carried multiple layers of historical significance. He became just the second Englishman in history to score at three separate World Cup tournaments, joining David Beckham, who found the net at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 editions. Kane has now scored at every World Cup he has appeared in — 2018, 2022, and 2026.

Kane now has 17 career goals across World Cups and European Championships combined, placing him in rarefied air. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (22), Miroslav Klose (19), and Gerd Muller (18) have more in major international tournament history. With England still in the thick of Group L, Kane has every chance to pass Muller and close in on Klose before this tournament concludes.

Kane carries 81 career international goals into the remainder of the competition, making him one of the most prolific international goalscorers of his era. At the club level, he finished the 2025-26 season with 69 goals for Bayern Munich — an extraordinary figure that reflects a striker still operating at the absolute peak of his powers heading into the 2026 World Cup. Those betting on World Cup top scorer markets through sites featuring the FanDuel Promo Code may want to take a serious look at Kane’s current odds.

England’s Defensive Concerns Amid the Celebration

Tuchel will be pleased with the result — England do not often win 4-2 against a Croatia side still featuring Luka Modric and Andrej Kramaric — but the manner in which they conceded twice in the first half will give the coaching staff pause. The English backline was exposed through the middle and caught out by Croatia’s movement on multiple occasions, suggesting there is still significant work to be done defensively before they face stiffer opposition deeper in the tournament.

Still, the attacking depth England possess is difficult to argue with. Kane led the line with authority, Bellingham produced another big-game moment, and Rashford demonstrated the match-changing quality he can deliver from the substitutes’ bench. For sports bettors tracking England’s tournament odds via the DraftKings Promo Code or BetMGM Promo Code, England’s combination of firepower and occasional defensive fragility makes them a fascinating proposition heading into the knockout rounds.

What Comes Next

England now lead Group L after three points from their opening fixture. Their next assignment will give Tuchel an opportunity to iron out the defensive issues and — most compellingly — give Kane another opportunity to stand alone at the top of England’s World Cup goalscoring chart. One more goal breaks the tie with Lineker and makes Kane the undisputed greatest goalscorer in England’s World Cup history.

At 32 years old with 81 international goals to his name, Kane is in the form of his life at the right moment. The 2026 World Cup may be the last one for this particular generation of English players, and if Wednesday’s opener is any indication, Kane intends to leave an unmistakable mark on this tournament. Gary Lineker’s record lasted 36 years. It may not last much longer. Daily fantasy players looking to capitalize on Kane’s form can explore options through the PrizePicks Promo Code for prop projections throughout the tournament.