Kane crowns historic night at Wembley with winning goal

Women’s Tennis / 12 November 2026 Svitolina battles back to keep WTA Finals title hopes alive 12 November 2026 Women’s Cycling / 12 November 2026 Oliva returns to GB team with LA Olympics in her sights 12 November 2026 Men’s Rugby Union / 12 November 2026 Ford back at fly-half as England make 10 changes for Japan clash 12 November 2026 Men’s Cricket / 12 November 2026 Brook focused on Australia series amid fresh sandpaper scrutiny 12 November 2026 England 2-1 Croatiaby Layth Yousifat Wembley StadiumHARRY KANE is inevitable. On a memorable Wembley evening for the England skipper, the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner scored the winner on his record-breaking 126th international appearance for the Three Lions.

In front of more than 80,000 fans on a cold Thursday evening at the national stadium, Kane broke Peter Shilton’s men’s appearance record of 125 games, before netting his 92nd goal for his country. Of course he did. 

A pre-match Tifo tribute to the feat was raised behind the goal, before Kane raised the glistering Ballon d’Or to the crowd, prior to being honoured by previous record holder Shilton, and Prince William, there in his role as Patron of the FA.

“It was incredible. Everything was amazing,” said Kane afterwards. “Thank you to everyone who organised [the tributes], with the tifo and presentations,” adding: “It’s been a crazy few weeks with a lot happening, but it’s an important moment in our history as a national team.”

Following the pre-match awards, the match fell flat in the opening stages. As the first paper aeroplanes were readied — a sure sign of a restless Wembley crowd — Morgan Rogers put the Three Lions 1-0 ahead from close range in the 24th minute. The goal coming after good work by Jude Bellingham along the right flank, who squared towards Rogers in the box. Josko Gvardiol failed to be decisive, leaving the Chelsea midfielder to pounce and squeeze the ball home. 

In truth, however, the first half had the air of an exhibition match following the pre-match festivities, with England going into the break ahead and the visitors relieved that last month’s 7-0 humiliation in Rijeka was not being repeated.

With the crowd willing Kane to score, never has a fluffed chance been met with such empathy, as the England skipper scuffed at the ball shortly after the restart, in a bid to crown such an honours-laden evening with a goal.

There was even a glitch in the script, when Croatia equalised through Petar Sucic in the 59th minute, as their black-clad fans erupted in booming celebration. The same fans who had applauded Kane before the match, when former Spurs teammate Luka Modric handed the England record-breaker a replica of an historic ball English industrialists had brought to Croatia in 1880, thereby sparking the country’s passion for the game. 

However, Kane’s inevitable goal was to follow when Jarrell Quansah was manhandled by Ivan Smolcic at an England corner. Referee Morten Krogh wasn’t interested but a VAR review sent him to the monitor to think again, prior to the Danish official changing his mind, and pointing to the spot.

Up stepped Kane, as the Bayern Munich captain fired home straight down the middle to make it 92 international goals on his 126th international appearance, as England saw the game out to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.