Harry Kane to start, break cap record and receive Ballon d'Or before Croatia match
Harry Kane will start for England against Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, earning his 126th cap and breaking Peter Shilton's appearance record. He will be presented with his Ballon d'Or trophy before kickoff, the first English winner in 25 years. England need only a point to qualify for the Nations League quarter‑finals in March. Kane is England's all‑time top scorer with 91 goals.
Key facts
- Kane won the Ballon d'Or in October, the first English player to do so in 25 years.
- He holds Tottenham Hotspur's all‑time scoring record with 280 goals.
- He has scored 156 goals for Bayern Munich since joining in 2023.
- A Sky Sports poll of nearly 100,000 readers named him the greatest England player, with 49 % voting.
- England are expected to secure a place in the March quarter‑finals after the match.
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Why it matters
His milestones and trophy boost England’s morale ahead of a crucial qualifier.
What changed
First published from Yahoo Sports, Bangkok Post, Sky Sports, The Independent and CNA