Kane and Bellingham on brink of new goal record

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will rewrite England’s history books if they score in Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against Argentina.

Bellingham’s match-winning double against Norway moved him level with Kane on six goals for the tournament, with the Real Madrid star having also struck against Croatia, Panama and Mexico (twice) this summer.

Kane scored a brace in each of the Three Lions’ wins over Croatia and DR Congo, and added further goals against Panama and Mexico.

Their prolific form in front of goal means the duo have already equalled the record for most goals scored by an England player at a major tournament, with two games left to play.

Thomas Tuchel’s men will face France or Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final if they defeat La Albiceleste, while there will be a third place play-off for the two nations who lose the semi-finals on Saturday.

Kane was already a joint holder of the record, having netted six goals at the 2018 World Cup against Panama (three), Tunisia (two) and Colombia (one) to win the Golden Boot.

His performances in Russia brought him level with Gary Lineker, who found the back of the net six times during the 1986 World Cup as England reached the quarter-finals.

Lineker won the tournament’s Golden Boot that year after scoring a hat-trick against Poland, two goals in the win over Paraguay and one in the last-eight defeat to Argentina.

Record scorers at major tournaments

1 = Harry Kane - 6 goals, World Cup 2018
1 = Harry Kane - 6 goals, World Cup 2026
1 = Gary Lineker - 6 goals, World Cup 1986
1= Jude Bellingham - 6 goals, World Cup 2026
5 - Alan Shearer - 5 goals, EURO 1996
6 = Harry Kane - 4 goals, EURO 2020
6 = Gary Lineker - 4 goals, World Cup 1990
6 = Wayne Rooney - 4 goals, EURO 2004
6 = Sir Geoff Hurst - 4 goals, World Cup 1966
10 = Bukayo Saka - 3 goals, World Cup 2022
10 = Marcus Rashord - 3 goals, World Cup 2022
10 = Raheem Sterling - 3 goals, EURO 2020
10 = Harry Kane - 3 goals, EURO 2024
10 = Nat Lofthouse - 3 goals, World Cup 1954
10 = Roger Hunt - 3 goals, World Cup 1966
10 = Sir Bobby Charlton - 3 goals, World Cup 1966
10 = Frank Lampard - 3 goals, EURO 2004
10 = David Platt - 3 goals, World Cup 1990

The trio all sit a single goal ahead of England favourite Alan Shearer, who managed five goals as Terry Venables’ men reached the semi-finals of EURO 1996 on home soil.

Kane and Lineker also managed four goals apiece during EURO 2020 and the 1990 World Cup respectively, the same tally as Wayne Rooney at EURO 2004 and Sir Geoff Hurst during the 1966 World Cup.

Nine players sit level on three goals each for England during either the World Cup or European Championships, with Kane having hit a treble at EURO 2024 to earn himself another spot on the list.

Current players Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka (both World Cup 2022) are among them, with Raheem Sterling, Frank Lampard, Nat Lofthouse, Roger Hunt, Sir Bobby Charlton and David Platt also managing three goals at a major tournament.