Following another successful international break for the Three Lions’ captain, it is now just a matter of time before Harry Kane becomes England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker scored in all three of England’s recent World Cup qualifiers, netting against Hungary, Andorra and Poland.
Gutted not to see out the win tonight. Loads of positives from these three games and a huge step closer to World Cup qualification. 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/w8h7rAtB4L— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 8, 2021
Gutted not to see out the win tonight. Loads of positives from these three games and a huge step closer to World Cup qualification. 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/w8h7rAtB4L
As a result, Kane has now scored in 15 consecutive World Cup and European Championship qualifiers – dating all the way back to May 2017.
The 28-year-old's international record currently stands at 41 goals in 64 matches, meaning he averages a goal every 1.56 games for his country (0.64 goals per game).
As things stand, Wayne Rooney is England’s all-time leading goalscorer, having bagged 53 goals in 120 games between 2003 and 2018.
There are now just three players between Kane and Rooney, while Kane is only 12 goals shy of the record.
• Wayne Rooney – 53 goals, 120 games
• Bobby Charlton – 49 goals, 106 games
• Gary Lineker – 48 goals, 80 games
• Jimmy Greaves – 44 goals, 57 games
• Harry Kane – 41 goals, 64 games
Remarkably, Rooney played 120 times for the Three Lions across a 15-year international career. Charlton also broke the 100-cap mark.
Although Kane has only earned 64 caps so far, he is only nine goals behind Charlton and 12 behind Rooney.
The majority of Kane’s international goals have come in European Championship qualifying. He has scored 15 goals in 13 Euro qualifiers, averaging 1.15 goals per game.
He has also netted ten goals in 11 World Cup qualifying matches, along with five goals in 11 friendlies and one goal in 11 Nations League outings.
When it comes to major tournaments, Kane has scored four goals in 11 European Championship games and six goals in six World Cup matches.
In fact, his six goals in six appearances at the 2018 World Cup in Russia saw him finish as the tournament’s top scorer and clinch the Golden Boot.
England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup before going all the way to the final at this summer’s European Championship.
If Gareth Southgate’s side continue to reach the latter stages of major tournaments, Kane will only score more goals.
At the end of the day, it is now just a matter of when, and not if Kane will break Rooney’s goalscoring record.
The Tottenham star has established himself as one of the deadliest strikers on the planet, so he thoroughly deserves the accolade.