[monks data]

Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage

Mar 23, 2023 at 7.45pm UK

Italy
1 - 2
England

Retegui (56')
Di Lorenzo (53'), Jorginho (61'), Acerbi (90+2')

FT(HT: 0-2)

Rice (13'), Kane (44' pen.)
Rice (29'), Maguire (57'), Walker (71'), Shaw (78')

Harry Kane becomes England's all-time record goalscorer

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 23 March 2023

Harry Kane becomes England's all-time record goalscorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney with a 54th strike during their Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.

England captain Harry Kane has cemented his place in footballing folklore with a record-breaking 54th goal for the Three Lions, thereby becoming his nation's highest goalscorer of all time.

The Tottenham Hotspur talisman sat level with Wayne Rooney on 53 strikes prior to the clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, having equalled his compatriot's record during the World Cup.

Having already got off the mark in Naples thanks to Declan Rice's strike, England were awarded a penalty in contentious circumstances with 43 minutes gone, as Bukayo Saka's corner to the back stick struck the outstretched arm of Giovanni Di Lorenzo before reaching Kane.

Following a quick look at the monitor, Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded a spot kick, and Kane stepped up to the 12-yard marker with history on his mind amid furious Italy protestations.

Remaining as composed as ever, Kane coolly sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way to become the Three Lions' greatest goalscorer of all time, racking up 54 goals in 81 matches.

Tributes soon poured in for the 29-year-old, with Gary Lineker - who scored 48 goals for his country - tweeting: "Many congratulations to @HKane on becoming @England's highest ever goal-scorer. A wonderful achievement."

While Kane has taken 81 games to post 54 goals, Rooney ended his international career with 53 strikes from 120 games, averaging 0.44 goals per game compared to Kane's 0.66.

The Tottenham man also became his club's highest scorer of all time earlier this season, surpassing Jimmy Greaves's 266 goals against Manchester City in February.