Harry Kane’s brace against the Democratic Republic of Congo not only saved England’s World Cup campaign. Within 11 unforgettable second-half minutes at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the England captain equaled one of football’s most enduring records and then immediately surpassed it, surpassing Brazilian icon Pelé on the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring list while becoming second on England’s all-time list of World Cup knockout goals. The performance also cemented his place among the game’s greatest Championship strikers.England appeared to be heading into the last 32 knockout stages after Brian Cipenga gave DR Congo the lead in the seventh minute, with the African side holding on to their advantage deep in the second half. Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated possession and ground but struggled to convert their advantage into goals until Kane produced another decisive performance on football’s biggest stage.
The 11-minute spell rewrote the record books
England’s breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute. Substitute Anthony Gordon accelerated down the left wing before curling a tempting cross into the six-yard area. Kane pulled away from his marker in a trademark move and headed home past goalkeeper Lionel Mpahi to level the score.This goal is historic. This brings Kane’s number of goals in the World Cup to 12, equal to Pele. Pele scored 12 goals in 16 World Cup games while helping Brazil win an unprecedented three World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970.
England’s Harry Kane (9) scores his team’s first goal during the World Cup round of 32 football match on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Kane hasn’t finished speaking yet.Gordon once again played a decisive role in the 86th minute as England continued to press for victory. The winger delivered another dangerous ball into a crowded penalty area after England regained possession from a partially cleared attack. Kane reacted fastest in a crowded pitch, created enough space, and then fired a powerful shot into the top right corner to help England complete the comeback and seal the victory 2-1.This goal brought Kane to 13 goals in his World Cup career, surpassing Pele and becoming the player with the most goals in World Cup history. In just 11 minutes, he first equaled and then surpassed one of the greatest strikers in football.With this brace, Kane has scored 5 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is tied with Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot lead. As the race for the tournament’s top scorer intensifies, only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe remain in the lead, both with six goals.
Climb England’s greatest World Cup milestone
This double also reshaped England’s own World Cup history.Kane’s equalizer and winner took his career tally of World Cup goals in the knockout stages to five, overtaking Sir Geoff Hurst, whose four knockout goals were one of England’s greatest tournament achievements since their 1966 World Cup triumph.In terms of England’s historical goals, only Gary Lineker is currently ahead of Kane with six goals in the World Cup knockout rounds. As England prepares for the last 16, the current captain is only one goal away from tying another historic national record.His wider international achievements continue to grow alongside the World Cup milestone. Kane has now scored 20 goals for England in major international events, including 13 goals in the World Cup and 7 goals in the European Cup. He scored 84 goals in 117 international games, becoming England’s all-time top scorer, and also holds the record for most goals by an English player in major competitions.The Bayern Munich striker first announced himself as the World Cup’s top scorer when he won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring six goals to help England reach the semi-finals. His latest brace means he has already scored five goals at the 2026 World Cup, just one shy of his personal best.Kane also made his 15th World Cup start against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the most caps of any England men’s outfield player, and took his tally to 72 goals for club and country this season. He was awarded the Man of the Match award for his performance after pulling England back from the brink of elimination.England’s World Cup journey continues with a last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico, but Kane’s arrival there proved once again why he remains one of the defining players of his generation. In a tournament already filled with record-breaking performances, it took just 11 minutes for the England captain to leave another lasting mark on World Cup history.
