Harry Kane has broken Wayne Rooney’s record to become England’s all-time top scorer. The Tottenham striker scored a penalty against Italy in Naples, taking his tally to an incredible 54 goals in just 81 games for his country. England were awarded a spot-kick just before the break after referee Srdjan Jovanovic consulted the pitchside VAR monitor and penalised Giovanni Di Lorenzo for a handball. Kane duly stepped up and slotted past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 44th minute.
Rooney, the previous record holder, was quick to praise Kane on social media after the historic strike. He wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations to @HKane on becoming @England’s all-time leading goalscorer. I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick. Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend. Congrats Harry.”
Kane had equalled Rooney’s record in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in December, but missed a late penalty which would have seen him become the standalone record holder. However, in England’s first game since the defeat to France, Kane netted to become England men’s all-time top scorer.
Kane’s first England goal came back in March 2015. The 29-year-old netted just seconds after coming off the bench for his debut in a 4-0 win over Lithuania at Wembley. Kane was then named England captain by boss Gareth Southgate ahead of the 2018 World Cup. He remains Three Lions skipper and wore the armband in Naples for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.
Kane scored from the spot to put England 2-0 up against Italy after Declan Rice had originally opened the scoring. Mateo Retegui pulled one back for the Italians but the Three Lions held on, despite Luke Shaw’s sending off, to win the game 2-1. Kane has the chance to add to his record in Sunday’s second Euro qualifier against Ukraine.