Harry Kane at the 2026 World Cup is the most complete version, ready to lead the Three Lions forward

By netting twice past Lionel Mpashi, one of the standout goalkeepers at the 2026 World Cup, Harry Kane did more than rescue England from an embarrassing loss—he also eclipsed the goal record of King Pelé.

As England faced the risk of becoming the first major nation eliminated in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup by DR Congo, the Three Lions captain once again stepped up at the right moment. In just the final 11 minutes, Kane scored two goals, turning a 2-1 defeat into a miraculous comeback victory and securing a spot in the round of 16. That was not only a breathtaking rescue act but also a landmark that lifted him past one of the greatest icons in football history—Pelé.

The hero of decisive moments

For over 70 minutes at Atlanta Stadium, England delivered a disappointing performance. Brian Cipenga put DR Congo ahead as early as the 7th minute. After that, the Three Lions' attack kept hitting a wall against the outstanding display of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, while the defense repeatedly exposed gaps that left coach Thomas Tuchel far from satisfied.

Harry Kane also had a tough game. He was denied a penalty, found himself tightly marked on numerous occasions, and had almost no space to shoot. But that is precisely what sets apart a good striker from a world-class finisher—and great players don't need many chances to change a match.

In the 75th minute, Kane scored a precise header to level the match after a cross from a teammate. Eleven minutes later, he unleashed a decisive strike to complete what seemed an impossible comeback for England. In just a few minutes, the entire atmosphere on the pitch shifted. From standing on the brink of elimination, the Three Lions became the side advancing, and Kane once again played the hero.

After the match, the Bayern Munich striker just smiled and said: "It was a crazy game. We always believed that chances would come. Before the match, we told each other there would be heroic moments. Today, I was the hero." That remark was not boastful but reflected exactly how Kane approaches football: calmly, patiently, and knowing how to wait for the right moment.

Surpassing Pelé, but not stopping yet

The equalizing goal against DR Congo helped Harry Kane reach 12 goals in World Cup tournaments, matching Pelé's tally. Just over 10 minutes later, his decisive strike took him to 13 goals, officially overtaking the Brazilian legend. These two goals also raised Kane's tally to five goals at the 2026 World Cup, leaving him just one behind Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

At the international level, he now has 84 goals in 117 appearances, further extending his record as the greatest scorer in England's history. At the same time, Kane has netted 20 goals at major tournaments (World Cup and EUROs), a figure no other English player has ever reached. Remarkably, he became only the second England player after David Beckham to score in three different World Cups.

These numbers demonstrate that Kane is no longer just an outstanding goalscorer. He is steadily building his status as one of the greatest strikers English football has ever produced.

When England still has many issues, Kane remains the answer

What is notable is that the victory over DR Congo did not mask England's weaknesses.

After the match, former captain Wayne Rooney bluntly warned that the Three Lions would face "serious trouble" if they continued to play that way against stronger opponents. He pointed out the lack of connection between defense and midfield, the gaps in central areas, and the unconvincing performances of the full-backs. Even coach Thomas Tuchel understood that a huge challenge lay ahead against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, where the co-hosts had won all four matches without conceding a goal.

But amid all those question marks, Harry Kane remained the most solid certainty. Over the years, whenever England found themselves in difficult situations, people have waited for Kane to step up. At the 2018 World Cup, he won the Golden Boot with six goals. At EURO 2020 and EURO 2024, he consistently scored decisive goals in knockout matches. At the 2026 World Cup, the same script played out again.

According to Opta stats, since EURO 2020, Kane has scored 10 goals in knockout matches of major tournaments, far ahead of even Mbappé (7 goals). That is the clearest proof of a player who knows how to shine when the pressure is greatest.

Ahead of England lies Mexico at the "cauldron" of Azteca, and potentially Brazil and Argentina if they go further. The journey to claim the golden trophy still holds countless challenges, while the Three Lions' tactical issues cannot be resolved overnight. However, one thing England fans can trust is that when the team needs a moment to change their fate, Harry Kane always knows how to appear.

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