Harry Kane becomes second England player to score in three FIFA World Cups after David Beckham
Texas, June 18
England captain Harry Kane etched his name further into FIFA World Cup history after a record-breaking performance in his side's 4-2 win over Croatia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L opener at the Dallas Stadium.
The England skipper delivered a commanding display, scoring a brace against Croatia, with one goal coming from the penalty spot in the 12th minute and another in the 42nd minute, helping England secure a strong start to their campaign.
Kane became only the second England player to score in three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026), joining legend David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006).
The Bayern Munich striker also equalled another major milestone, reaching 10 FIFA World Cup goals -- the joint-most by an England player alongside Gary Lineker.
In addition, Kane set a new global benchmark by scoring the most non-penalty shootout penalties in FIFA World Cup history, taking his tally to five.
Coming to the clash, World Cup contenders England secured a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia in what has been the most entertaining match of the tournament so far.
The in-form Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with impressive second-half strikes as England pulled away in a high-intensity contest.
Croatia had twice fought back to level the scores in a seesaw first half.
First, Martin Baturina cancelled out Harry Kane's retaken penalty with a thumping finish. Then Petar Musa levelled after Kane had struck again with a header.
During the clash, Ivan Perisic also became the second player to register an assist at four different FIFA World Cup tournaments. The Croatian player joined Argentine legend Lionel Messi as the only players in history to achieve the feat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see Kane’s penalty record—five non-shootout penalties in World Cups is incredible. But I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed that the article focuses so much on England. Croatia, with Perisic’s fourth World Cup assist, was equally impressive. Wish we got more coverage of other teams too. As an Indian fan, I’d love to see our boys on such a stage someday! 🙏
What a thrilling match! As someone who grew up watching Beckham’s free kicks, it’s heartwarming to see Kane carry that legacy. Bellingham is a gem for the future too. But honestly, Croatia’s fightback shows why they’re always underdogs you can’t count out. Indian football needs to look at how England nurtures talent—maybe we can learn from their system. 🇮🇳
Kane is a legend—no doubt about it. But I gotta say, the penalty rule for retakes needs to be looked at. Bellingham’s goal was a beauty though. England have depth, but their defense looked shaky at times. Croatia deserved more credit for their resilience. Fun match to watch from Texas! 🤠
I’m not a big football follower, but seeing Kane’s stats is impressive! 10 World Cup goals for England—that’s massive. Lineker must be proud. As an Indian, I wish our cricket-crazy nation gave football more love. Maybe after this World Cup, more youngsters here will pick up the beautiful game. 🏏➡️⚽
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