After overtaking Brazilian legend Pele, Harry Kane heats up international goals race.

The world football stage is entering an exciting phase. On one hand, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have strong chances to chase Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record. Meanwhile, Harry Kane has just shaken up the international goalscoring charts by surpassing Brazilian legend Pelé's tally.

This broader context intensifies the global record race, making the 2026 World Cup the perfect moment to witness who will truly rewrite history.

Kane Overtakes Pelé and Enters World Elite

Kane claimed headlines after England defeated Albania at Air Albania Stadium in Tirana, where he netted both goals for the Three Lions.

With those two strikes, Kane now boasts 78 goals in 112 caps for England. This achievement not only solidifies him as England's all-time top scorer but also eclipses Brazilian legend Pelé's 77 goals. Kane now shares the spot with Iraq's Hussein Saeed.

During the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Kane's consistency has been undeniable. He's scored 8 goals in 6 matches while leading England to a perfect record.

With England securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Kane's opportunities to add to his tally appear substantial.

Updated list of top international goalscorers:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (143)

2. Lionel Messi (115)

3. Ali Daei (108)

4. Sunil Chhetri (95)

5. Romelu Lukaku & Mokhtar Dahari (89)

6. Robert Lewandowski (87)

5. Ali Mabkhout (85)

6. Ferenc Puskas (84)

7. Godfrey Chitalu & Neymar (79)

8. Harry Kane & Hussein Saeed (78)