Harry Kane Passes Pelé World Cup Goals Total as England Advance to 2026 World Cup Round of 16
Harry Kane added another remarkable achievement to his legendary international career by surpassing Brazilian icon Pelé’s FIFA World Cup goal tally as England fought back to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The England captain scored twice in the final 15 minutes to rescue the Three Lions from a shock elimination and send them into the Round of 16.
England entered the knockout clash as heavy favorites but found themselves under pressure almost immediately. DR Congo made a dream start when Brian Cipenga opened the scoring in the seventh minute after capitalizing on a defensive lapse. The early goal stunned England and energized the Congolese supporters, who sensed the possibility of one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
For much of the match, England struggled to break down a disciplined DR Congo defense. The African side defended with determination while goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced several outstanding saves to frustrate the English attack. Thomas Tuchel’s men dominated possession but lacked creativity in the final third, leaving supporters increasingly anxious as the clock ticked down.
Tuchel responded by making attacking substitutions that transformed the contest. The introduction of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka injected pace and urgency into England’s attack, while tactical adjustments created more space for Harry Kane inside the penalty area.
England finally found the breakthrough in the 75th minute. Gordon delivered an inviting cross that Kane met with a powerful header, leveling the score at 1-1. The goal marked Kane’s 12th World Cup strike, drawing him level with Pelé on the tournament’s all-time scoring list.
Just eleven minutes later, Kane etched his name into football history. After another flowing England move, the striker calmly finished past Mpasi to complete the comeback and score his 13th World Cup goal, moving ahead of Pelé and further cementing his status among the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history. The brace also took Kane’s England career tally to 84 international goals, extending his own national scoring record.
The latest milestone adds to what has already been an extraordinary tournament for the Bayern Munich striker. Kane had previously become England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer during the group stage by surpassing Gary Lineker’s long-standing record. His latest two goals continue an impressive run that has placed him among the favorites to win the tournament’s Golden Boot.
England’s comeback also highlighted the team’s resilience. Although the performance was far from convincing for long stretches, the Three Lions once again demonstrated their ability to produce decisive moments under pressure. Kane’s leadership and composure proved invaluable as England avoided an embarrassing exit against a determined DR Congo side.
Despite the defeat, DR Congo earned widespread praise for an inspiring performance. Making one of the deepest World Cup runs in the nation’s history, the African side matched England for much of the contest and came within minutes of producing one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. Their disciplined defending, energetic pressing and fearless approach won admiration from football fans around the world.
England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16, setting up one of the most anticipated matches of the knockout stage. Mexico has impressed throughout the tournament, advancing without conceding a goal and backed by passionate home support at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The clash promises to be a major test of England’s championship ambitions.
For Kane, however, the night belonged to history. By moving past Pelé on the FIFA World Cup scoring chart, the England captain joined an elite group of football legends whose names are forever linked with the sport’s biggest tournament. At 32, Kane continues to rewrite England’s record books while strengthening his place among the greatest World Cup strikers of all time.
With confidence growing and their captain producing record-breaking performances, England remains firmly in contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title. If Kane maintains his current form, more milestones—and perhaps football’s biggest prize—could still lie ahead for the Three Lions.
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