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England captain Harry Kane etched his name into World Cup history by overtaking Lionel Messi to become the tournament’s all-time leading penalty scorer.
Kane set the new record with his fifth World Cup penalty goal (excluding shootouts) during England’s match against Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, moving ahead of Messi and several other football legends who had previously shared the record with four spot-kick goals each.
A group of footballing greats who had previously shared the record with four penalty goals each includes Argentina’s Messi and Gabriel Batistuta, Portugal’s Eusebio, and the Netherlands’ Rob Rensenbrink.
With the strike, Kane moved to the top of the all-time World Cup penalty scoring chart, adding another remarkable achievement to his international career.
Taking penalties on football’s biggest stage is widely regarded as one of the game’s toughest tests, but Kane has repeatedly demonstrated his composure under pressure. His ability to deliver in crucial moments has been a hallmark of his career and has now earned him a place in World Cup history.
Among current players, Messi remains the only footballer with a realistic chance of challenging Kane’s new record.
However, the Argentina captain would need to score additional penalties in the remaining matches of the tournament to draw level with or surpass the England forward.