With Lineker now in the rearview mirror, Kane has shifted his focus to the global leaderboard. His next target is none other than Brazilian icon Pele, who sits just one goal ahead of him with 12 World Cup strikes. Pele achieved his tally across four tournaments and 16 appearances – the exact number of games Kane has played to reach his current mark of 11 goals.
The 32-year-old is also climbing the ranks toward the all-time greats. While Lionel Messi has extended his lead at the top with 18 goals, Kane has already surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s total of 10. He now trails Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who famously netted 15 times, and Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappe, who both currently sit on 16 goals apiece. Given his current scoring rate, the England captain could feasibly break into the all-time top five before the 2026 tournament concludes.
