Adam Davy/PA (PA Wire)
With the Premier League taking a break this weekend, all eyes turned to international fixtures. For England, this marked a new era under head coach Thomas Tuchel and the start of 2026 World Cup qualifying in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
England secured a 2-0 victory over Albania, though the match was largely forgettable. The only highlights were the goal scorers. For Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, it was a goal on his international debut. Interestingly, he now has as many goals (2) as red cards this season.
The second goal came from England’s record-breaking striker, Harry Kane, who remains one of the greatest goal scorers in history. Despite receiving widespread praise, Kane’s accomplishments often go unnoticed.
Since scoring 80 seconds into his England debut, Kane has barely stopped finding the net. He now boasts 70 goals in 104 international appearances, averaging a goal per 133 minutes. Remarkably, he has scored 17 more goals in 16 fewer games than Wayne Rooney, England’s second-highest scorer.
Kane’s consistency and efficiency make him one of the most prolific forwards in the world. Moreover, his leadership and experience provide a cornerstone for England as Tuchel navigates a new era.
As qualifying continues, all eyes will remain on Kane to maintain his record-breaking momentum and lead England toward the 2026 World Cup.
To put Kane’s achievements in context, since his England debut, Lionel Messi has scored 66 goals for Argentina, Robert Lewandowski 58 for Poland, and Cristiano Ronaldo 84 for Portugal. Clearly, Kane belongs in the company of the game’s modern greats.
Despite this, Kane is often overlooked for major global individual awards. He has scored 213 goals in 317 appearances for Tottenham and 57 goals in 56 games for Bayern Munich. His best Ballon d’Or finish was 10th. Kane acknowledged the situation during his pre-match press conference, stating that “people take it for granted” when discussing his incredible goal return. And they do.
Kane may have several years left to extend his impact into his thirties. However, he turns 32 this summer and will be nearly 33 when the next World Cup begins. Ultimately, England fans and football lovers worldwide don’t have much longer with this goal machine. They should appreciate him now because it may be another generation before a player like Kane emerges.
Yep, we have one too
