England captain Harry Kane is on the verge of another major career milestone as he prepares to become the country’s most-capped international footballer.
The Bayern Munich forward is expected to feature against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, a match that will take his England appearances to 126 and see him overtake former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who retired with 125 caps.
The historic occasion comes at a remarkable point in Kane’s career, following his recent Ballon d’Or triumph, which recognised his outstanding performances over the past year.
His achievements have now reignited discussions about where he stands among England’s greatest football legends, with comparisons involving former World Cup winners Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore.
Although Kane has yet to win a major international trophy, his personal records and contributions to the national team have strengthened his argument for the honour.
A Sky Sports poll conducted after his 125th appearance revealed that 49 per cent of almost 100,000 participants considered him England’s greatest-ever player.
Kane has experienced several near misses with the Three Lions, including defeats in two European Championship finals and a heartbreaking World Cup semi-final appearance in 2018.
Despite those disappointments, he has remained central to England’s progress, delivering consistently through goals, assists and leadership.
His scoring numbers have been particularly impressive. Kane moved beyond Wayne Rooney’s previous record of 53 England goals and has now registered 91, establishing himself as the national team’s highest goalscorer.
The striker’s commitment has also been evident in his availability, having missed just one of England’s previous 101 competitive fixtures.
While his international journey has featured painful moments, including costly missed chances at major tournaments, his overall contribution has continued to attract admiration.
Kane has also developed into a more complete forward, combining his natural finishing ability with creativity and the capacity to organise attacks from deeper positions.
As England prepare to honour him at Wembley, the captain will have another opportunity to add to his remarkable international record.
However, beyond personal milestones, Kane’s biggest ambition remains leading England to a major trophy and delivering the success that has eluded the country for decades.
