Harry Kane has passed Pelé in international goals, and that alone would already be enough to make headlines around the world. But the English forward’s Sunday delivered more than a new number on the stat sheet, it brought one of those symbolic turns that change the way we look at an entire generation.
With his two goals in the win over Albania in the European qualifiers, Kane reached 78 goals for England, one more than the 77 scored by Pelé in matches recognized by FIFA. The context behind those numbers is obviously different, especially because Pelé is Pelé and has a higher average, 0.83 per game compared to the Englishman’s 0.69, but the impact of the milestone still shook the locker room.
According to Thomas Tuchel, the topic took over the postgame moments. “We talked about it in the locker room a moment ago, this is the cherry on top, that he passed Pelé today. Harry’s investment in these games is simply sensational, he commits to everything we do, he’s in a mindset and physical condition that are absolutely top level,” the coach said.
England’s strongest moment in years
While Kane piles up goals, England piles up records. The team closed the European qualifiers with a perfect campaign and didn’t concede a single goal, something never seen before in runs longer than four matches. Eight wins, 22 goals scored, none allowed.
Spain can still match it next Tuesday, but nothing changes the fact that the English team is living its most consistent period in recent history. And this collective performance only works because Kane works. He wasn’t the top scorer of the overall qualifiers, since Haaland finished with 16 goals including two against Italy, but since 2019 no one has scored more in Euro or World Cup qualifiers than the Bayern forward. That’s 40 in total. This season alone, counting club and national team, he has 28 goals in 22 games.
These numbers support what he said after the win, “This is the best we’ve ever been, we’re going to the World Cup as one of the favorites and we have to accept that.” It’s not arrogance, it’s acknowledgment.
A generation beginning to embrace its real size
With Kane at his physical, technical and mental peak, England finally seems comfortable with the word favorite. The team is going through a solid stretch with 11 straight wins, something that had never happened in English history. It’s not an exaggeration to say the team heads into the 2026 World Cup more prepared than in any recent edition.
And at the center of everything is the same player who left the locker room stunned after surpassing Pelé. Kane doesn’t have the mythical aura of the King, and he doesn’t need it.