Harry Kane is on the verge of etching his name further into the annals of English football history. On Thursday, when England face Croatia in the Nations League at Wembley, Kane will earn his 126th cap, surpassing Peter Shilton's long-standing record of 125 to become the most-capped men's player for the Three Lions.
A Remarkable Journey
Kane's rise from a young boy in Chingford to England captain and record goalscorer is the stuff of dreams. His international debut in 2015, where he scored just 79 seconds after coming on, set the tone for a career defined by milestones. Now, at 33, the Bayern Munich striker stands on the brink of yet another landmark.
"It's not about me - it's about the team," Kane said of the achievement. "I love coming to every England camp, I love playing every game and representing the country in the best way possible."
England manager Thomas Tuchel, who recently announced his squad, praised Kane: "He wins the Ballon d'Or, and deservedly so, and in the next game for England he gets the all-time record with 126 matches. Thursday is a deserved occasion to celebrate an extraordinary player."
From Fan to Legend
Before he was a household name, Kane was just another England fan, experiencing the highs and lows from the stands or the pub. He recalls the heartbreak of penalty shootout defeats and the joy of watching his heroes. "During most major tournaments we would go to the pub to watch England, with the beer garden and the screen," he said. "We loved England, we loved watching England and we were big England fans. I remember many tears being shed after we went out on penalties and things like that."
His passion for the game was evident from an early age. At five, he wrote in a school project that he wanted to be a footballer. Weekends were spent playing in Ridgeway Park with his father Patrick and brother Charlie, using trees as goalposts. His childhood club, Ridgeway Rovers, also produced David Beckham, Kane's idol. "Seeing Beckham's shirt hanging there growing up and knowing he grew up in the same surroundings as I did was a source of great motivation," Kane added.
Leadership and Legacy
Kane's leadership qualities were recognized by former England manager Gareth Southgate, who handed him the captaincy in 2017. Since then, Kane has captained the Three Lions 97 times when starting, more than anyone else. His former teammate Joe Hart recalled his first impressions: "My reaction when he first came into the England squad was: 'Alright, who is this guy?' Then I was like: 'Oh OK, he's good!' Then he kept coming back and my reaction was: 'Flipping heck, he's getting better!'"
Despite his individual accolades, including a Ballon d'Or and Bundesliga titles with Bayern, Kane has yet to lead England to a major trophy. He will be nearly 35 when England co-hosts Euro 2028, but he shows no signs of slowing down. "From a physical point of view, I feel great," he said. "My numbers are as high as ever, and I've recently reached a new top speed in a game against Borussia Dortmund. I'm going to keep pushing and see what else is possible."
Giving Back
Off the pitch, Kane remains grounded. In 2020, he sponsored Leyton Orient's shirt, with the club's home strip carrying a message of thanks to frontline workers during the pandemic. Mental health charity Mind and Haven House Children's Hospice also featured on the change shirts. "I was born and brought up only a couple of miles from Orient's stadium and I'm really happy to have the opportunity to give back to the club that gave me my first professional start," Kane said.
As Kane prepares for his record-breaking appearance, the football world will salute a player who has become an England great. Lothar Matthaus, West Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning captain, told BBC Sport: "He aged, but he got better too, like red wine." On Thursday, England's players and fans will raise a glass to Harry Kane, the boy from Chingford who lived his fairytale.
