Harry Kane joins Gary Lineker as England’s top goalscorer at World Cup with historic brace

Harry Kane made England World Cup history and equaled Gary Lineker’s 36-year-old record of 10 goals. (AP photo) Thirty-six years after Gary Lineker etched his name into England’s World Cup record books, Harry Kane stood on the same podium on Thursday night and equaled the legend, and did so with the kind of composure and brilliance that has defined his entire career.A first-half penalty and header against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington took Kane’s World Cup tally to 10 goals, matching Lineker’s record in two tournaments in 1986 and 1990. The record stood for 36 years. Kane, in his third World Cup, took just 42 minutes to get there.The first goal was as nervous as the milestone was huge. Kane converted a penalty in the 12th minute, but the effort was saved by Dominik Livakovič. But a VAR review found the Croatian keeper had left his line too soon and with Josko Guardiol also booked for interference, Kane was forced to repeat. The Bayern Munich forward didn’t hesitate this time and sent Livakovic the wrong way, slotting the ball into the bottom corner with utter conviction.The second was the study of the classic game of a center forward. When Declan Rice curled in a corner from the right in the 42nd minute, Kane broke away from his marker, timed his run to perfection and curled a downward header past the helpless Livakovic to make it 2-1. It was his 10th World Cup goal and the roar of the England faithful at the AT&T Stadium said everything about what it meant.The symmetry with Lineker is striking. Both men won the World Cup Golden Boot – Lineker in Mexico in 1986 with six goals, Kane in Russia in 2018 also with six. Both are among the most lethal and reliable strikers England have ever produced. And now the two share the World Cup goals record for the Three Lions.Kane ended the night with a winner as England came from two behind to win 4-2, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford completing the second-half comeback. But the story of the night in Dallas will always belong to Kane.As England look to end a 60-year major trophy drought that stretches back to their iconic World Cup triumph in 1966, Harry Kane will be the absolute heart of their campaign.