Gary Lineker hails Harry Kane as 'the greatest English striker ever' after equalizing World Cup record
June 20, 2026 · Global
Gary Lineker hailed Harry Kane as England's greatest striker after Kane equaled Lineker's World Cup goal record in the match against Croatia.
Harry Kane enters his third World Cup campaign. Gary Lineker declared Harry Kane the "greatest English striker ever" after the England captain equaled Lineker's World Cup goal total. Kane scored twice as England beat Croatia 4-2 in their Group L opener in Dallas on Wednesday, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also on target. The Bayern Munich striker now has 10 goals in the World Cup, equaling Lineker's record. Lineker joked that he reached that figure in two tournaments, namely 1986 in Mexico and 1990 in Italy, while Kane will have to wait until his third World Cup after appearing in 2018 in Russia, where he won the Golden Boot, and in 2022 in Qatar. However, the former BBC Match of the Day presenter was firm about Kane's position as England captain and all-time top goalscorer. "I'm very happy that Kane equaled my record," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. "Welcome to the double figures club. It's great. Maybe he needs one more World Cup. But, seriously, Harry Kane is, in my opinion, the greatest English striker ever. I really think so now. "His all-round play, for me, is what sets him apart from the rest." North America with two goals each. Lineker's fellow co-host and former England captain, Alan Shearer, stated: "Harry Kane has seen Messi, Mbappe and Haaland all go live and score goals." Responding to Lineker, Shearer added: "It's only a matter of time before he breaks your record." You can't speak highly enough of him. On the field, he is amazing, but off the field, he is a great leader.