Sports

IIE DIGITAL: England captain Harry Kane produced another memorable performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring twice to inspire the Three Lions to a 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in the Round of 32 in Atlanta on Wednesday. England suffered an early setback when Brian Cipenga put DR Congo ahead in the seventh minute. The African side frustrated Gareth Southgate's men for much of the contest, but Kane stepped up when it mattered most. The Bayern Munich striker struck twice in the second half to complete the turnaround and book England's place in the Round of 16, where they will face Mexico. The brace also strengthened Kane's bid for the Golden Boot. The England skipper has now scored five goals in the ongoing tournament, putting him level with Erling Haaland. Ousmane Dembélé, Vinícius Júnior, and Ismaïla Sarr have four goals each, while Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the scoring charts with six goals apiece.

Beyond helping England progress, Kane also achieved a major personal milestone. His second goal against DR Congo was his 13th FIFA World Cup goal, allowing him to surpass Brazilian legend Pelé, who ended his World Cup career with 12 goals in 14 matches while lifting the trophy three times.

Kane reached the landmark in just 15 World Cup appearances across three editions of the tournament, further cementing his place among the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history.

Despite overtaking Pelé, the England captain still trails Lionel Messi, who recently became the tournament's all-time leading scorer after surpassing German great Miroslav Klose. Messi has now scored 19 goals in 29 World Cup matches, setting a new benchmark for future generations.

Following England's dramatic victory, teammate Anthony Gordon compared Kane to football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the 32-year-old striker preferred to focus on the work that has helped him remain one of the world's most consistent forwards.

Speaking after the match, Kane said his success is built on countless hours of preparation away from the spotlight.

"That's why you do all the work behind the scenes. The things people don't see when we're training, recovering, doing ice baths and treatment—it's all about the small details that allow you to perform at the highest level for as long as possible," Kane said.

He added that players like Messi and Ronaldo have set the standard for longevity and consistency.

"Those guys are the benchmark. I feel as good as I've ever felt, and when I step onto the pitch, I know all the work I've done behind the scenes has prepared me for the big moments. That's exactly what happened today," he said.

With England safely through to the Round of 16, all eyes will once again be on Kane when the Three Lions take on Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium on Sunday. As England chase World Cup glory, their captain will also be looking to close the gap on Mbappé and Messi in the race for the tournament's Golden Boot.