England top scorers of all time: Complete list of most goals with Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker and legends

Will Savage

England top scorers of all time: Complete list of most goals with Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker and legends image

Harry Kane became England men's all-time record goalscorer after scoring his 60th and 61st goals on his 87th cap as the Three Lions sealed Euro 2024 qualification with a 3-1 win over Italy.

The Bayern Munich striker tied with Wayne Rooney atop England's all-time scorer's list at the end of 2022, as he scored from the penalty spot in England's World Cup quarterfinal loss to France.

Kane's momentous record-breaking England goal came on March 23, 2023 as he converted a penalty to put Gareth Southgate's team 2-0 up in Italy in their opening Euros qualifier.

The 30-year-old will have plenty more opportunities to extend his lead at the top of the charts. He got off and running at Euro 2024 after scoring against Denmark in the second group game before scoring again in the Round of 16 clash with Slovakia. Kane then scored from the penalty spot to level up the semifinal against the Netherlands after a debatable spot-kick decision.

Although final glory again eluded Kane and England, the striker enjoyed a memorable moment two months later, scoring on the day he won his 100th cap for his country at Wembley Stadium in the UEFA Nations League match against Finland. More goals are surely set to follow.

MORE: Premier League all-time top scorers: Where Kane ranks

What is the England goals record?

The record for most goals for the England men's national team belongs to Harry Kane.

Wayne Rooney scored 53 goals for England in 120 appearances. Kane is on 68 goals after 100 appearances.

Rooney and Kane are the only male English players in history to have crossed the 50-goal threshold for the national team.

The only other England players with 40 or more are Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48), Jimmy Greaves (44) and Michael Owen (40).

MORE: England World Cup squad 2022: Who made it and why

Most England goals all-time

In addition to the list of players above, there is a group of three players on 30 goals, which includes Premier League all-time scoring leader Alan Shearer.

Another familiar name, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, rounds out the top 10, which is made more impressive by the fact that he played in central midfield.

NameGoalsCapsYears
Harry Kane681002015 - present
Wayne Rooney531202003 - 2018
Bobby Charlton491061958 - 1970
Gary Lineker48801984 - 1992
Jimmy Greaves44571959 - 1967
Michael Owen40891998 - 2008
Nat Lofthouse30331950 - 1958
Alan Shearer30631992 - 2000
Tom Finney30761946 - 1958
Vivian Woodward29231903 - 1911
Frank Lampard291061999 - 2014

Harry Kane England goals

Kane scored on his first England appearance, in a 4-0 win over Lithuania in 2015. But it was in 2017 that he began to score at a steady clip at international level, tucking away seven goals in six appearances.

That form continued into 2018 and through the World Cup in Russia, with Kane scoring eight goals in 12 matches during that year. Six of those came on the biggest stage at the World Cup, as England reached the semifinal stage.

He kept up his scoring form, and he actually upped his total in 2019 to 12 goals, adding to his career tally during England's Euro qualifying and Nations League campaigns.

The 2020 calendar year, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, saw him go goalless on a limited schedule (just six matches). But he bounced back with a single-year career high of 16 goals in 16 matches in 2021.

A measure of just how prolific Kane has been is evidenced in the ranking of the England all-time top scorers rearranged by goals per appearance. His 0.68 goals per match played stands well above the other Premier League era scorers.

NameGoals
per cap
Vivian Woodward1.26
Nat Lofthouse0.91
Jimmy Greaves0.77
Harry Kane0.68
Gary Lineker0.60
Alan Shearer0.48
Bobby Charlton0.46
Michael Owen0.45
Wayne Rooney0.44
Tom Finney0.39
Frank Lampard0.27

MORE: Who has the most away goals in Premier League history?

When did Harry Kane break the England record?

Kane made history when he converted the penalty in England's Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy on March 23, 2023. It turned out to be the decisive goal in a 2-1 win.

Declan Rice had already put the Three Lions ahead and England were awarded a penalty just before halftime. Despite his heartbreaking late penalty miss in the World Cup quarterfinal against France there was no doubt as to who would step up for the spot-kick.

Kane buried his penalty past Gianluigi Donnarumma before wheeling off to the corner flag to celebrate, each of his teammates congratulating him on his historic feat.

Will Savage