Much of the spotlight on England’s two opening games in the 2024/25 Nations League was on the new interim boss, Lee Carsley. Rather foolishly, many fans were as bothered about the fact that he decided not to sing the national anthem as they were about the tactical and technical innovations he might bring.
However, for England’s second game, against Finland, there was a little less interest in the former Everton midfielder and rather more interest in his captain. That’s because the game against Finland on the 10th of September 2024 was Harry Kane’s 100th appearance for the Three Lions.
A really special night. 100 caps. ❤️🏴💯 pic.twitter.com/bhUJDe5KEd
— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 10, 2024
England’s record goalscorer duly marked the occasion with a very well-taken brace, guiding his side to a 2-0 win that maintained Carsley’s 100% record, and potentially helped him earn the England manager’s role on a permanent basis. Despite firing in 46 goals in 48 games for Bayern Munich last term and then jointly winning the top scorer award at Euro 2024 (albeit with just three goals, and little in the way of real contributions beyond the goals themselves), Kane had come in for a lot of criticism of late.
Magnificent Kane
Perhaps it is simply the English way. But whatever the reason, Kane showed he still has so much to offer his country. He now has 68 goals for his country, 15 more than Wayne Rooney (53 in 120 games) and 19 more than Bobby Charlton (49 in 106 appearances). Coincidentally, Kane joined those two in scoring on their 100th appearances for England.
Critics may point to the high number of penalties Kane has registered. Of his 68 goals all but two have come from inside the penalty area, with a substantial 22 of those coming from the spot. He has missed a few along the way, and 22 penalties, almost a third of his total, is undoubtedly a lot.
However, Kane has also scored by far the most goals of any England player in competitive games. Of his 68 strikes, 60 have come in non-friendly matches, although the structure of the modern football calendar is different now, with the Nations League classed as competitive and largely replacing friendly internationals.
Ultimately though a goal is a goal and Kane has been brilliant for England. He has the best goals-to-game ratio of almost all of England’s highest scorers, with Jimmy Greaves (44 in 57) the notable exception. In addition, he won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup and, as said, was joint top scorer at the Euros in 2024. His 15 goals at major tournaments is also a record, whilst his five hat-tricks for the Three Lions mean that only Greaves (six) is ahead of him in that regard.
England’s Other Cap Centurions
Kane’s longevity is also impressive, and he will surely add to his 100 caps, with a target of 100 international goals even mentioned in the past by the skipper. He needs 26 more appearances to break Peter Shilton’s record for the most caps for the Three Lions, and that is certainly within his grasp. But who else has made it to triple digits?
| Player | Caps |
|---|---|
| Peter Shilton | 125 |
| Wayne Rooney | 120 |
| David Beckham | 115 |
| Steven Gerrard | 114 |
| Bobby Moore | 108 |
| Ashley Cole | 107 |
| Bobby Charlton | 106 |
| Frank Lampard | 106 |
| Billy Wright | 105 |
| Harry Kane | 100 |
Peter Shilton, 125 Caps
Goalie Shilton is England’s record appearance maker and has been for well over 30 years. He won two European Cups with Nottingham Forest and made over 1,200 appearances in club football in an incredible career. He made his England debut in 1970 and for some time shared goalkeeping duties with Ray Clemence, another brilliant stopper of that era. However, by 1984 Shilton was established as the number one and remained that way until 1990. He retired after England’s third-place play-off game at Italia ‘90.
Wayne Rooney, 120 Caps
Rooney has his critics but many consider him one of the greatest players to ever appear for England. As the man with the second-most goals and appearances, that seems a fair assessment, even if, after bursting onto the scene as an Everton player at Euro 2004, he never quite delivered on his huge potential. That is perhaps a little harsh on the former Manchester United star though, who won the esteemed Golden Boy award in 2004, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2009, as well as countless other individual and club honours.
David Beckham, 115 Caps
Beckham went from World Cup villain in 1998, when he was sent off against Argentina at the World Cup in France that year, to national treasure. He captained England 58 times over a period of six years and played for his country between 1996 and 2009. He managed 17 goals for his country but his perfect free-kick against Greece at Old Trafford, to secure a place in the World Cup, is the one that most fans will remember.
Steven Gerrard, 114 Caps
Liverpool’s talismanic captain never quite delivered in the same way for England as he did for the Reds but even so, a haul of 114 caps and 21 goals represents a brilliant career. Several of England’s centurions played for the “golden generation” team of the early years of the 21st century and Gerrard will not be alone in wondering what might have been.
Bobby Moore, 108 Caps
Until Kane lifts the 2026 World Cup (if we say it often enough, it will happen, right?), Moore remains the only England skipper to have lifted a major piece of silverware. Moore was an elegant, stylish defender who read the game as well as anyone and could both pass and carry the ball out from the back. He captained his country a record-equalling 90 times and was a legend with his primary club, West Ham.
Ashley Cole, 107 Caps
Cole was perhaps the best left-back in the world for a period and won so much with Arsenal and Chelsea. He played for England between 2001 and 2014 and was fast, strong in the tackle and brilliant in one-on-ones.
Bobby Charlton, 106 Caps
Like Moore, Charlton won the World Cup, and his goals were a big part of England’s success in 1966. He played in an attacking midfield role, which makes his tally of 49 England goals all the more impressive. Many would argue that he is England’s best-ever footballer.
Frank Lampard, 106 Caps
Lampard presented Kane with his 100th golden cap before the game against Finland. “Lamps” netted 29 goals for his country but the fact that no manager could resolve the issue of how to partner him and Gerrard will forever nag at those who supported England in this era.
Billy Wright, 105 Caps
Wright played his football in the 1940s and 1950s and, like Moore, was skipper on 90 occasions. He was the first player in world football to earn 100 caps and spent his entire club career with Wolves, playing well over 500 games for them. A tough yet classy defender, he is another Three Lions legend.