Harry Kane set a World Cup record for the most penalty kicks scored after the match against Croatia
England national team forward Harry Kane has become the sole record-holder at World Cups for the number of penalty kicks converted.
In the first match of the group stage against Croatia, Kane converted his fifth penalty kick at the World Cup, allowing him to take sole possession of first place in this category.
Previously, the English forward had shared the top spot with a number of legendary players—Portugal’s Eusébio, Dutchman Rob Rensenbrink, and Argentines Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi, who is also competing in the 2026 World Cup.
How the England–Croatia Match Unfolded
England started the match aggressively and earned a penalty right from the start after Luka Modrić fouled Noni Madueke. Kane initially failed to beat goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, but after the goalkeeper came off his line too early, he was awarded a retake and opened the scoring on his second attempt.
Croatia responded in the 36th minute—Mario Pašalić launched an attack down the right flank and set up Martin Baturin, who fired a precise shot into the far top corner.
Before halftime, England regained the lead: in the 42nd minute, following a corner kick taken by Declan Rice, Kane won the aerial duel and scored his second goal of the match.
In stoppage time of the first half, Ivan Perišić assisted Petar Musi, who equalized the score—2–2 at halftime.
In the second half, Jude Bellingham put England back in front as early as the 47th minute, and late in the match, Marcus Rashford sealed the victory—4–2 in favor of England.
Match Summary
England – Croatia 4–2 (2–2)
Goals: Kane (12, 42), Bellingham (47), Rashford (85) – Baturina (36), Musa (45+5)
As a reminder, Kyiv’s Dynamo will play its nominal home matches in the 2026/27 European club season at the Arena Lublin stadium in Poland. The capital club’s press service reported that the decision to use the Polish stadium as their home base was made after a thorough analysis of logistical and organizational factors in order to create the most comfortable conditions for the players’ training and matches.
Mykola Mykhailenko, a player for Kyiv’s Dynamo, will not be able to join the team’s preseason training camp in Austria.
Messi tops the list of all-time leading scorers in World Cup history.
