The key facts

  • Kane made his 126th England appearance, surpassing Shilton's record (125 caps, 1970–1990)
  • The record was set in a UEFA Nations League match against Croatia at Wembley
  • Kane is captain for his 99th match and the national team's all-time top scorer (91 goals)

126th cap and a new record

Harry Kane became the most-capped men's player in England's history, starting the UEFA Nations League match against Croatia. It was his 126th appearance for the national team — one more than former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who made 125 appearances between 1970 and 1990. Anadolu reported the news.

Wembley and the captain's role

The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker reached the milestone at Wembley Stadium in London, where England hosted Croatia. Kane also extended his own record for appearances as captain — it was his 99th game wearing the armband. He had previously surpassed the mark of 90 matches shared by Bobby Moore and Billy Wright. According to the outlet, Shilton was due to hold a special ceremony before the match to honour Kane's achievement.

The road to the record and other achievements

Kane equalled Shilton's record on 6 October, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic. The striker made his debut for the national team in March 2015 in a match against Lithuania. He is also England's all-time top scorer with 91 goals, having surpassed Wayne Rooney's record of 53 in March 2023. Last month Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Englishman since Michael Owen (2001) to receive the award, after an outstanding 2025/26 season with Bayern Munich.