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England's greatest international? Kane is now a serious contender - Published Harry Kane will write another chapter in his illustrious England history by equalling Peter Shilton's record tally of 125 caps if he plays a part in the Uefa Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic at Wembley. England's captain is already his country's record scorer with 89 goals in 124 appearances in a full international career he started by opening his account 79 seconds into his debut. Since that 4-0 win against Lithuania at Wembley in March 2015, he has been England's mainstay. He is still irreplaceable at 33 and their top scorer in major tournaments with 21 goals in 36 appearances across six of those showpieces, ahead of Gary Lineker's 10 goals in 18 appearances. He is in the process of building a monument to his goalscoring brilliance at elite level as he currently stands 36 goals ahead of England's second-highest scorer Wayne Rooney, who boasts a record of 53 goals in 120 games. Kane is unquestionably England men's most important and influential player of the modern era. The only blemish on his magnificent career is the failure – not his alone it must be stressed – to add to the one men's World Cup won in 1966. Irrespective of that space for silverware on his CV, how highly does Kane rank in the pantheon of greats who have represented the England men's team? Could he even be the greatest? He has made himself a serious contender. - The great number nine decline - where have England's strikers gone? - Published13 November 2025 - Can Kane buck history and win Ballon d'Or? - Published7 September Moore? Charlton? Rooney? - where does Kane rank? This argument will instantly cut away from Kane to Bobby Moore, the elegant, unflappable defender who remains the only England captain to lift the World Cup, leading his team to triumph at Wembley in July 1966 as West Germany were beaten 4-2. Moore was only 25 at the time, and had enjoyed success at club level with West Ham United, winning the FA Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup before the World Cup. He won 108 caps between May 1962 and November 1973. And then, of course, the conversation must turn to Sir Bobby Charlton, who survived the Munich Air Disaster with Manchester United in 1958 to become arguably England's most famous footballer of his era. Charlton was a global beacon of dignity and world-class ability, winning the World Cup then, two years later, captaining Manchester United when they became the first English team to win the European Cup, scoring twice as Benfica were beaten 4-1 at Wembley. He remains third on England's list of scorers, with 49 goals in 106 games. Sir Geoff Hurst will always claim a special place with his hat-trick in the World Cup final win, while many others will have their supporters from recent times, including the likes of Wayne Rooney and David Beckham. Former England midfielder Danny Murphy, said: "Bobby Moore will always be in people's conversation. Sir Bobby Charlton also, because of what they did and the memories they created. "As you move forward, for me as a kid Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] burst on the scene and became a hero, especially as a creative midfield player myself. "I think Rooney was arguably the most all-round footballer we have ever had, the most talented I've seen – but no-one can argue with Harry Kane's quality, numbers and longevity. It is the record of an England great." He added: "There is one thing there is no debate about. Harry Kane is England's greatest goalscorer. "No-one can take that away from him. The numbers over such a period of longevity are incredible. This, in itself, deserves all the accolades in the world. To stay at that level and not have anybody displace him is testimony to his ability and professionalism. "He's a born goalscorer. He's a super professional. He's technically brilliant. He's been an absolute credit to himself and his family in the way he's conducted himself and the longevity he's had in his career. "Is he England's greatest player? This is all about opinions and eras, but his record and longevity alone informs you that he is an England great. He is in that elite group." 'We are guilty of underestimating what is in front of us' Kane's status as an England great is beyond question. Where he stands in that list of greats will be shaped by eras and opinions, according to former internationals Paul Robinson and Murphy. Robinson told BBC Sport that the scale of Kane's greatness may only be fully appreciated in years to come. He said: "Harry Kane is an England great. There is no argument. He will always be part of that conversation now. "I think we are guilty in the modern era of underestimating what we've got in front of us. We are quite happy to look through rose-tinted spectacles at what we had in the past. "We will talk about Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton, but football now is a completely different game. The life of a footballer is completely different and it's almost like they are playing a different game. "What Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton achieved, nobody in an England shirt has done since. You respect what they did in the era, and the status and legacy that comes with winning the World Cup and everything else they did, but we must also say it is a different game now." Kane's double in Saturday's 7-0 win in Croatia took his tally to 11 goals in 12 games for England in this calendar year. He has also scored in six consecutive England away games, with only Sir Tom Finney having a longer run, seven between September 1946 and May 1948. Last season alone, Ballon d'Or contender Kane scored a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for England and his club Bayern Munich. He has scored five hat-tricks in an England career which includes 110 starts, with a 66% win rate. "The biggest compliment you can pay Harry Kane is to ask yourself how long we've been pondering the question 'what will England do if Harry Kane gets injured?'," Robinson added. "There is no-one close to his class in that position. It is taken as read the captain is playing and without the captain, we would be in trouble. "I think we'll appreciate him even more in another 10,15, 20 years when you look back and see what he has achieved. People will point to the lack of silverware with England, but he can't play everywhere can he? "We look back with nostalgia and fondness, saying we've had this great and that great – and England have – but make no mistake Kane is right in that debate and will be for years to come." 'The big moments haven't yet happened for him' Kane's lack of a major international trophy will undoubtedly be the argument used to counter suggestions he is England's greatest. He has come close, only to lose two World Cup semi-finals and two European Championship finals. The next Euros in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2028 could be his last chance to change that unwanted record. Murphy, said: "The only thing really missing from him is the icing on the cake, namely getting over the line in a major tournament, which is looking less likely for him as the years go by. "I suppose that will always be one criticism of him, as well as many England players and generations. Nobody has managed to get them over the line since 1966, and the responsibility usually does fall on the strikers or the captain. "He didn't score in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia 2018 or in the Euros final against Italy at Wembley. He missed a penalty against France in the World Cup quarter-final in 2022, then obviously he didn't score in the Euro 2024 final against Spain or the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. "People will look at that and say in the big moments, it didn't happen for him. "I don't adhere to that observation at all because it's not just him and he did so much to get England in those positions. Anyone can miss a penalty. The reality is the team itself, the tactics, all those things factor into why England haven't got over the line." As Kane stands on the brink of equalling the England caps record, he still has time – and the enduring quality - to state his case as an all-time great even more forcefully in the future.
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