Spurs academy graduate Harry Kane passes Peter Shilton with 126th England cap
Harry Kane became England's most-capped men's player against Croatia at Wembley and scored the penalty that sent England into the Nations League quarter-finals. Most of the caps behind the record came while he was at Tottenham, where his England career began.
Kane started England’s game with Croatia on Thursday 12 November 2026 and so became the men’s team’s most-capped player. Shilton won his last cap in 1990, two decades after his first. He held the appearance record for 36 years. Kane had drawn level with him during the September–October window, against Czechia.
Most of Kane’s England career was built at Tottenham
Kane came through the Spurs academy and played 435 times for the club. The club said 84 of his England caps came while he was a Tottenham player. Jermain Defoe and Eric Dier share the next highest total, with 49 each.
Kane also scored 58 of his England goals in a Spurs shirt. He scored on his England debut against Lithuania in 2015. He left for Bayern Munich in August 2023, eight years later.
He has not forgotten where it started. In his Ballon d’Or acceptance speech in October 2026, Kane thanked Tottenham and said he would not be where he is without the club. He is the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
Spurs links ran through the build-up at Wembley. Luka Modric, his former Tottenham teammate and the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, gave him a gift from the Croatian Football Federation before kick-off. Prince William, patron of the Football Association, presented Kane with a commemorative shirt bearing the number 126. Kane also paraded his Ballon d’Or trophy before the game.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel used his programme notes to call Wembley “the perfect place to celebrate Harry Kane and his recent achievements”.
Kane’s penalty settled a tight night against Croatia
Morgan Rogers gave England the lead in the 24th minute. Petar Sucic equalised for Croatia after a weak header from Jarell Quansah. Quansah then won the penalty. Referee Morten Krogh awarded it after looking at the pitchside monitor.
Kane converted it to make the score 2-1. The goal was his 92nd for England. That leaves him 39 clear of Wayne Rooney, who is second on the list.
The result secured England’s place in the quarter-finals. It also capped a recovery in the group, after Spain beat England 3-2 in the opening game of the campaign.
England finish their group against Spain at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Sunday 15 November 2026, with kick-off at 7.45pm GMT. The Nations League quarter-finals are scheduled for 25 to 30 March 2027.
