London: England captain Harry Kane has described the opportunity to become his country’s most-capped men’s international footballer as one of the greatest achievements of his career, saying the milestone reflects years of hard work, commitment and dedication.
Kane is set to make his 126th appearance for England when the Three Lions face Croatia in their UEFA Nations League encounter at Wembley on Thursday. The Bayern Munich striker will move past former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who held the record with 125 international appearances since 1990.
Speaking at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, the 33-year-old said the achievement would rank among the most significant moments of his career.
“It’s definitely up there as the biggest achievement. I think it showcases consistency at the highest level. Testament to all the dedication, the time people don’t see that keeps me fit and healthy. This is one of the biggest milestones in my career,” Kane said.
The record-breaking occasion adds another remarkable chapter to an outstanding period for the England captain. Kane has already established himself as the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 91 international goals and also holds Tottenham Hotspur’s scoring record with 280 goals.
His achievements at club level have continued to grow since his move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich in 2023. The English striker has scored 156 goals for the German giants and finally ended his long wait for major silverware by winning Bundesliga titles in 2025 and 2026.
Kane also enjoyed a memorable individual year, becoming the first English player in 25 years to win the Ballon d’Or in October.
Despite his individual success, international glory remains an unfinished ambition for the striker. England have not won a major men’s international trophy since their historic 1966 FIFA World Cup triumph on home soil.
Kane also endured disappointment at the World Cup in July, when England suffered a semi-final defeat against Argentina. The Three Lions had held a 1-0 advantage before conceding twice late in the match, ending Kane’s hopes of reaching his first World Cup final.
However, the England skipper remains determined to achieve more with his national team and has set his sights on reaching the 100-goal milestone.
“I don’t like to put limits. One hundred goals for England is a milestone to reach as soon as possible. We’ve done extremely well in tournaments, going into latter stages. I’m feeling really good and hopefully there will be many more years to see what I can achieve,” he added.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was also full of praise for his captain, although he stopped short of declaring Kane the greatest English footballer of all time.
Tuchel said Kane’s achievements and records already placed him among the country’s finest players, adding that his career could still produce more memorable moments.
“He’s up there, of course. It’s now proven. It’s always nice if things are proven in sports. He has his prizes and records, he will build on these records, score more goals and get more games,” Tuchel said.
Tuchel confirmed that Kane would start against Croatia as captain, describing Thursday’s occasion as particularly special. The match will also provide an opportunity for England supporters to celebrate the striker’s Ballon d’Or success alongside his historic international appearance record.
England head into the Croatia encounter in a strong position in their Nations League Group A3 campaign and are virtually assured of reaching the quarter-finals in March, irrespective of Thursday’s result.
The Three Lions will nevertheless expect a difficult challenge from Croatia, who suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat against England in Rijeka last month. Tuchel described that result as a “freak result” and expects the Croatian side to respond strongly at Wembley.
“We expect a reaction from Croatia and we expect to overcome this mental challenge for us,” the England manager said.
Following Thursday’s fixture, England will face reigning World Cup champions Spain in their final Group A3 match on Sunday in Madrid.
Tuchel also provided an update on defenders Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence, indicating that both could be available for the Spain encounter after being ruled out of the Croatia match.
“My understanding at the moment is that they will both be available, but we will not take the risk for tomorrow,” he added.
For Kane, however, Thursday will be about making history in an England shirt, with the opportunity to move beyond Shilton’s long-standing record and further cement his place among the greatest players to represent the Three Lions.
