Harry Kane once again proved why he is one of the greatest strikers of his generation, producing a sensational brace to inspire England to a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. His match-winning display not only secured England's place in the Round of 16 but also saw the captain rewrite the history books with two major World Cup records.
Kane Climbs England's All-Time Knockout Goals Chart
Kane's two goals took his tally to five FIFA World Cup knockout goals, moving him ahead of Sir Geoff Hurst (4) into second place among England's all-time World Cup knockout scorers.
Only Gary Lineker, with six knockout goals, now stands ahead of the England captain. With England still alive in the tournament, Kane is just one goal away from equalling the legendary record and could soon become England's greatest knockout scorer in World Cup history. He is also England's leading goal scorer in world cup history.
Harry Kane Surpasses Pelé on World Cup Scoring List
The brace also elevated Kane to 13 career FIFA World Cup goals, moving him ahead of Brazilian legend Pelé (12) and drawing level with France icon Just Fontaine in sixth place on the all-time World Cup scoring charts.
The updated all-time rankings are now led by Lionel Messi (19), followed by Kylian Mbappé (18), Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo Nazário (15), Gerd Müller (14), before Kane and Fontaine share sixth place with 13 goals each.
Kane's latest double also extended another remarkable statistic. Since the 2018 FIFA World Cup, only Kylian Mbappé (6) has scored more World Cup braces than Harry Kane (3).
His goals also took him to five goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving him behind only Mbappé (6) and Messi (6) in the race for this tournament's Golden Boot.
He sits comfortably ahead of Kylian Mbappé (7), while Dani Olmo, Kasper Dolberg, and Gonçalo Ramos are tied on three knockout goals each. The remarkable statistic further highlights Kane's reputation as one of international football's most reliable performers when the stakes are at their highest.
Match Summary: England 2-1 DR Congo
England were stunned early as Brian Cipenga fired DR Congo into a seventh-minute lead, leaving Thomas Tuchel's side chasing the game for more than an hour. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, England were repeatedly denied by an inspired Lionel Mpasi goal.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute when Kane headed home from Anthony Gordon's cross to level the score. Just 11 minutes later, the England captain completed the comeback with a thunderous strike from outside the box, again assisted by Gordon, sealing a hard-fought 2-1 victory and avoiding one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
England's World Cup Dream Remains Alive
Harry Kane once again delivered when England needed him most, breaking multiple World Cup records while keeping the Three Lions' title hopes alive. England have now qualified for the Round of 16 thanks largely to their captain's heroics, and with Kane in this kind of form, it remains to be seen whether he can lead England all the way and finally deliver the FIFA World Cup trophy.
