Harry Kane Breaks 69-Year-Old Record, Becomes 1st English Footballer To...

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 07:18 IST

Kane has scored more than one goal in 13 matches for the English team now, which is one more than Nat Lofthouse's tally of 12.

Harry Kane scored two goals for England in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers match against Latvia on Wednesday. (Picture Credit: AP)

Harry Kane scored two goals for England on Wednesday (October 14) in their 5-0 win over Latvia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match. In the contest played at Riga’s Daugava Stadium, Kane scored his first goal from open play in the 44th minute and his second from the spot in the 45th+3rd minute of the first half.

The brace by Kane in the away match helped him break a 69-year-old record set by Nat Lofthouse.

During his playing days, Nat Lofthouse scored more than one goal in 12 matches for the Three Lions, whereas Harry Kane now has scored more than one goal in 13 fixtures for the 1966 FIFA World Cup winners.

England qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026

Thomas Tuchel’s England brushed aside Latvia in Riga to make it six wins from six in Group K and guarantee top spot before their final two fixtures next month — they have 18 points and an unassailable seven-point lead over second-placed Albania.

Anthony Gordon opened the scoring before Kane produced a lethal finish and then netted a penalty to make it 3-0 at half-time — the Bayern Munich striker has 21 goals in 13 games this season for club and country.

Maksims Tonisevs scored an own-goal and Eberechi Eze added the fifth, with England now able to look forward to December’s draw for next year’s finals.

“It comes rarely that you qualify for a World Cup, so the mood is very, very good," said Tuchel.

All 12 group winners in Europe qualify directly for the World Cup, with the runners-up going on to play-offs.

Portugal made to wait

Portugal were on the brink of punching their ticket as they led Hungary 2-1 in stoppage time in Lisbon, knowing a win would confirm first place in Group F.

Attila Szalai headed Hungary in front only for Ronaldo to turn in Nelson Semedo’s driven cross to equalise midway through the first half.

Ronaldo then converted a Nuno Mendes cross to give Portugal the lead in first-half stoppage time, taking the 40-year-old Al Nassr superstar to an all-time international record of 143 goals in 225 appearances for his country.

He now holds the record for the most goals in World Cup qualifying with 41, two more than retired Guatemala international Carlos Ruiz on 39.

However, Hungary snatched a draw when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai finished from close range in injury time.

That means Hungary remain five points behind Portugal with two games left and so could still top Group F, while Ireland theoretically could too after Evan Ferguson’s header secured a 1-0 victory against Armenia, who had Tigran Barseghyan sent off.

(With inputs from AFP)

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