Harry Kane has had no shortage of memorable evenings in an England shirt, but few will have been quite as momentous as the one he had on Thursday night against Croatia. A 2-1 win at Wembley that night saw him become England's most-capped men's international footballer.
The Bayern Munich striker made his 126th appearance for the Three Lions, overtaking the previous record of 125 set by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton. That record had stood since 1989, and what better way to celebrate the achievement than to score the winning goal?
At 33, Kane is already one of England's greatest ever players. It was not just a celebration of a career defined by records; really, it was another reminder that he is still very much part of the international story.
From A Promising Debut To England's Record Appearance Maker
Kane's international career began in March 2015 with his debut for England against Lithuania at Wembley. He came on as a second-half substitute and immediately scored (79 seconds after coming on). That was the start of a relationship which has continued to develop over the following 10 years.
Since that debut, he has become England's all-time top scorer (passing Wayne Rooney's record of 53 in 2023), and that tally has continued to grow, with his latest goal against Croatia taking him to 92 for England.
His contribution has been so much more than just finding the net. Appointed captain in 2018, he has been there through all the managerial changes, the major tournaments, and the different generations of England players that have come through.
He has been there through the good times and the bad with the Three Lions: the run to the semis in the 2018 World Cup, the misery of losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties and then another final in the Euros in 2024.
While he has not won any major international silverware, Kane's individual accolades have certainly piled up. He holds England records for both appearances and goals in major tournaments, as well as the record for goals scored at Wembley.
Moving beyond Shilton's appearance record is another major milestone in a career which has already produced so much.
A Record-Breaking Night Finished In Fitting Fashion
There was a sense of occasion around Wembley before a ball had even been kicked.
Kane walked out with his four kids before being presented with the award by the man whose record he was about to break. Shilton handed him a commemorative shirt alongside the Prince of Wales. Croatia captain Luka Modrić (Kane's former Spurs teammate) also presented him with a gift on behalf of the Croatian Football Federation.
The celebrations were the ideal backdrop for an evening which would see another very special contribution from England's captain.
On the pitch, Kane was involved in the opening goal, with his diagonal delivery finding Jude Bellingham, whose ball across the penalty area allowed Morgan Rogers to slot home and put England ahead in the 24th minute.
Croatia responded in the second half with Petar Sučić capitalising on a loose ball after a corner to level the scores just before the hour.
However, England were given a chance to restore their advantage when Jarell Quansah was brought down inside the penalty area. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Kane to step forward and take responsibility.
There was little hesitation from the captain. He sent the ball straight down the middle to make it 2-1, scoring his 92nd England goal and ensuring his record-breaking appearance would be remembered for more than just the pre-match celebrations.
The victory also secured England's place in the Nations League quarter-finals, giving the occasion an important competitive reward alongside its individual significance.
Reflecting afterwards, Kane admitted that winning the match made the milestone even more special, reiterating how important it was to mark such an occasion with three points.
A Legacy That Will Continue To Grow
Surpassing Shilton's record places Kane in a league of his own within English football, but there is no suggestion that he intends to stop there.
The striker has already set his sights on reaching 100 international goals, a landmark that only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Daei have achieved among men's international footballers. With eight more goals to go, it's another target that could well be the catalyst for the next phase of his England career.
His international record is phenomenal. He has scored more than any other player to represent the men's national team, has played more games than any other player in the team's history, and has captained the side at several of the team's most important moments in recent times.
There is also the wider question of what England still need to achieve collectively. We have reached the finals of two European Championships, but the one major international trophy he has been chasing has eluded him.
For now, at least, Thursday night was Kane's night. A player who once came to Wembley as a young striker on his international debut returned a decade later as his country's most-capped men's footballer, adding another goal to his record and another cap to his collection.
Shilton's 125 appearances used to be an unassailable target to overtake, but Kane has now passed that mark and, with his international career still very much in progress, the figure next to his name will not be 126 for long.
His position in English history is already firmly established. The question now is just how far he can go.
