Kane breaks Pele’s iconic record in Tirana

November 17, 2025 Oliver Obel

England’s night in Tirana had the feel of a routine qualifier until the final stretch, when Harry Kane once again turned a quiet contest into a landmark occasion. By the time the players walked off the pitch, Thomas Tuchel’s praise for his captain was almost as inevitable as the goals themselves.

Kane scored twice late in the match to surpass the international tally long associated with Pele — a number that had hung over global football for more than half a century. BBC Sport and Reuters both reported that the Brazilian great’s 77-goal total, set across 91 games, had stood untouched since the 1960s.

Kane surpasses a half-century-old record

The breakthrough arrived with less than 20 minutes to play. As England pressed through a scrappy period, Kane reacted first to a Bukayo Saka corner, nudging the ball over the line to pull level with the Brazilian. According to AP’s match coverage, the significance of the moment became clear from the way England’s bench surged to its feet.

Kane didn’t need long to move beyond the record. Only minutes later, Marcus Rashford bent a cross toward the back post, and the captain drifted into space before guiding a measured header inside the far post. His celebration — arms out, sprinting toward the away supporters — showed he understood the weight of the moment.

Kane’s first strike for England came in March 2015, during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania. Nearly ten years later, the Tottenham academy graduate has become the most prolific scorer in the national team’s history. His international résumé includes the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot and a shared scoring title at Euro 2024, achievements that helped England reach consecutive European Championship finals.

A decade of milestones and Tuchel’s praise

His club career has produced its own landmarks. Reuters noted that in October, the Bayern Munich forward became the fastest player to reach 100 Bundesliga goals, doing so in only 104 matches. He now sits 24 goals clear of Wayne Rooney on England’s all-time scoring list and stands within reach of Peter Shilton’s appearance record, trailing by just 14 caps. Despite all this, he has never finished higher than tenth in the Ballon d’Or voting, placing 13th this year.

After England closed their qualifying run with eight wins from eight, Tuchel highlighted the broader significance of Kane’s achievement.

“We spoke about it in the dressing room,” he said after the match. “This is the cherry on top. The investment from Harry in these matches is outstanding. He is so invested in everything we do. He’s the same for Bayern Munich. He’s in a mindset and physical condition that is at the highest level. He produces goal after goal for us. The way he works, tracks back, finds solutions in offensive play is outstanding.”

For England, the night in Tirana may not have been the most dramatic of performances, but it delivered a moment that will sit prominently in the country’s football history. As the squad turns its attention toward the World Cup, Kane’s form — and his manager’s admiration — suggests his influence will stretch well beyond statistics.

Sources: BBC Sport, Reuters, Associated Press