Harry Kane Shatters Pele's Record in Historic Goalscoring Feat
Harry Kane netted his 77th and 78th international strikes for England on Sunday night, eclipsing Pelé's milestone in world football.
The Bayern Munich forward entered the Three Lions' final match of the year requiring just one strike to equal Pelé's total of 77 goals for Brazil's national squad. As he has done countless times during his 11-year international journey, Kane found the net twice in England's 2–0 triumph against Albania.
The forward achieved the long-awaited opener for his team in the 74th minute, slotting home the decisive goal from short distance. Kane then confirmed the victory with a commanding header merely eight minutes afterward.
The double not only completed a flawless 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign for Thomas Tuchel's team, but also provided Kane with another personal scoring milestone. The England captain can now claim he has scored more frequently on the international platform than three-time World Cup champion Pelé.
The Brazilian legend concluded his Seleção career with 77 strikes in 92 international matches. Kane exceeded this achievement in his 112th outing for the Three Lions.
Kane has begun 2025–26 in spectacular fashion, tallying 28 strikes in 23 matches for both club and national team. The 32-year-old has been instrumental in Bayern Munich's perfect record across all tournaments this campaign.
His clinical finishing ability has positioned him as an early contender for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, alongside players like Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland.
Tuchel: Kane's Commitment to England Is 'Exceptional'
Tuchel expressed complete admiration for his captain after Kane's milestone-achieving display that concluded England's November international period.
"This represents the perfect finishing touch. Harry's commitment to these matches is exceptional. He invests himself completely in our every action. He demonstrates the same dedication for Bayern Munich," Tuchel commented.
"He maintains a mentality and fitness level that represents the pinnacle. He delivers goal after goal for our team. His work ethic, defensive tracking, and creative solutions in attack are exceptional."
Kane's double against Albania extends his advantage over Wayne Rooney, who concluded his international journey with 53 strikes in 120 matches, as England's record goalscorer.
Alongside Kane's attacking excellence, the Three Lions have also delivered impressive defensive performances. England have now maintained 10 straight clean sheets in official matches, equaling Spain's European benchmark established from 2014 to 2016.