Harry Kane Just Equalled A 36-Year-Old England Record — And Naturally He Celebrated With Two Goals And An Assist

Some people get a card and a cake for a milestone. Harry Kane got two goals, an assist and a Wembley standing ovation. Stop it, honestly.

The England captain made his 125th appearance on Tuesday night, level with Peter Shilton's all-time record, which had stood for 36 years, according to Sky Sports. Then he made sure he was involved in every single goal in a 3-0 win over Czech Republic.

The Tea ☕

• Kane equalled Shilton's England appearance record with cap No. 125.
• He scored twice and set up the other goal in a 3-0 Nations League win at Wembley.
• He's now past 90 England goals, and a trophy is the one thing still missing.

A Script Even Hollywood Would Call Too Neat

The first goal was pure chaos. Kane drifted out to the right wing and whipped in a cross, and Czech defender Vladimir Coufal put it into his own net while under no pressure. Sky Sports says Wembley "almost unanimously laughed" as the replay played on the big screen. Sorry, Vladimir.

Kane's own moment came five minutes before half-time. A slick move involving Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers ended with Rogers crossing for the captain, who had all the time and space in the world to finish.

After the break he hit the bar from distance, then headed home Lewis Hall's delivery into the bottom corner at the far post. That's two goals, one assist (technically an own goal, but we're counting it) and a night's work done.

No hat-trick, since he was subbed off with 10 minutes left. We'll allow it.

The Numbers Are Getting Silly

Per Sky Sports, Kane has now passed the 90-goal mark for England and wants a century of goals to go with his century-plus caps. Their verdict: he's "definitely going to get it."

BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel gave him an 8 out of 10, the highest rating on the pitch, noting it "goes without saying he scored... twice." Fans voting in the BBC player rater backed that up with an average of 8.47 for Kane. Jude Bellingham was next at 7.56.

Here's the detail that gets us: Kane made his England debut at 21. Per Sky Sports, that's late for a generational talent. Bellingham was 17 and Saka and Rio Ferdinand were 19. Kane still hit 125 caps in 11 years, and in England's last 101 competitive matches he has been available for all but one.

The Squad Had Words

"He's playing at a level that is unmatched," said Bellingham after the game, adding that Kane is "only getting better."

Kane himself said the milestone was "beyond my wildest dreams" and called it "an extreme privilege."

Wholesome. Annoyingly wholesome.

The One Thing Missing

Sky Sports' analysis asks the big question: can Kane take "that final step" and win a trophy with England? The cap record is secured, and the goal record is basically his already. Silverware is the only thing left that would make him the undisputed best.

As for Thomas Tuchel's team, they finished the long international break with three wins from four and 14 goals scored. They're also all but through to the Nations League quarter-finals, needing just one point from their last two games.

Next up, Kane gets to break Shilton's record outright. We're already clearing our diaries.

So tell us: is Kane England's greatest ever, even without a trophy, or does the silverware have to come first? Sound off below.

Sources: Sky Sports match report | Sky Sports analysis | BBC Sport player ratings