Harry Kane is alone in second place on the England all-time scorer’s list, with his name firmly entrenched among the elite forwards who have put on an England shirt.
Discussion has quickly moved to just how long it will take Kane to get the three goals he needs to top the list and break Wayne Rooney’s record of 53.
Kane is just two goals behind Rooney, and given his solid record at World Cups — he won the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA tournament — it’s fathomable that he equals, or surpasses, the record in Qatar.
He has been nursing an ankle problem and failed to score in the opening two games against Iran and USA, but the suggestion is he is desperate to start against Wales and take a further step towards overtaking Rooney. A deep run in the tournament like may are expecting would do his chances of breaking the record a world of good.
Kane’s goals will be a key factor if Gareth Southgate’s side is to fulfill its potential after a semifinal finish at the 2018 World Cup and a runner-up spot at Euro 2020.
Even if he doesn’t break the record in Qatar, Kane is still only 29. Time is on his side to surpass the current record, and make history of his own in any future World Cups.
MORE: Premier League all-time top scorers: Where Kane ranks
What is the England goals record?
England’s top goalscorer is Wayne Rooney. He scored 53 goals for England in 120 appearances, and along with Kane he is the only male English player in history to have crossed the 50-goal threshold for the national team.
Kane is on 51 goals, ahead of the great Bobby Charlton. Kane has left Gary Lineker’s 48-goal international haul behind him.
The only other England players in the 40s are Jimmy Greaves (44) and Michael Owen (40).
Most England goals all-time
In addition to the list of players above, there is a group of three players on 30 goals, which includes Premier League all-time scoring leader Alan Shearer.
Another familiar name, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, rounds out the top 10, which is made more impressive by the fact that he played in central midfield.
| Name | Goals | Caps | Years |
| Wayne Rooney | 53 | 120 | 2003 – 2018 |
| Harry Kane | 51 | 77 | 2015 – present |
| Bobby Charlton | 49 | 106 | 1958 – 1970 |
| Gary Lineker | 48 | 80 | 1984 – 1992 |
| Jimmy Greaves | 44 | 57 | 1959 – 1967 |
| Michael Owen | 40 | 89 | 1998 – 2008 |
| Nat Lofthouse | 30 | 33 | 1950 – 1958 |
| Alan Shearer | 30 | 63 | 1992 – 2000 |
| Tom Finney | 30 | 76 | 1946 – 1958 |
| Vivian Woodward | 29 | 23 | 1903 – 1911 |
| Frank Lampard | 29 | 106 | 1999 – 2014 |
Harry Kane England goals
Kane scored on his first England appearance, in a 4-0 win over Lithuania in 2015. But it was in 2017 that he began to score at a steady clip on international level, tucking away seven goals in six appearances.
That form continued into 2018 and through the World Cup in Russia, with Kane scoring eight goals in 12 matches during that year. Six of those came on the biggest stage at the World Cup, as England reached the semifinal stage.
He kept up his scoring form, and he actually upped his total in 2019 to 12 goals, adding to his career tally during England’s Euro qualifying and Nations League campaigns.
The 2020 calendar year, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw him go goalless on a limited schedule (just six matches). But he bounced back with a single-year career high of 16 goals in 16 matches in 2021.
He has three goals in 10 matches so far in 2022.
A measure of just how prolific Kane has been is evidenced in the ranking of the England all-time top scorers rearranged by goals per appearance. His 0.67 goals per match played stands well above the other Premier League era scorers.
| Name | Goals per cap |
| Vivian Woodward | 1.26 |
| Nat Lofthouse | 0.91 |
| Jimmy Greaves | 0.77 |
| Harry Kane | 0.65 |
| Gary Lineker | 0.6 |
| Alan Shearer | 0.48 |
| Bobby Charlton | 0.46 |
| Michael Owen | 0.45 |
| Wayne Rooney | 0.44 |
| Tom Finney | 0.39 |
| Frank Lampard | 0.27 |
MORE: Who has the most away goals in Premier League history?
When will Harry Kane break the record?
All three of Kane’s goals for England in 2022 have come via the penalty spot with his latest strike coming against Germany in a thrilling 2022/23 UEFA Nations League match at Wembley Stadium. He previously netted late spot kicks against Switzerland (2-1 friendly win) and in a draw against Germany (1-1 draw).
At his current rate of 0.68 goals per match, Kane would need about five more matches to get the three goals he needs to break the England scoring record.
England’s next scheduled match will be against Senegal on December 4. Kane was unable to get on the scoresheet in any of Englands group matches.
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