Harry Kane made history as the first Englishman to score 500 professional goals in official matches. The Bayern Munich striker hit the milestone with two goals against Werder Bremen on Saturday. Kane already surpassed Jimmy Greaves’ total of 474 in December, becoming England’s highest-scoring player. He continues another remarkable season, netting 26 goals in just 22 Bundesliga matches, and it is only February. Analysts have examined how Kane scored his goals and what other records he could challenge next.
Kane’s goals and who he has scored for
Kane scored his first professional goal 15 years ago as a 17-year-old for Leyton Orient against Sheffield Wednesday. He netted five goals for the O’s, then two for Leicester and nine for Millwall. At Tottenham, Kane scored 280 goals before moving to Bayern Munich, where he has already reached 126 goals. He also became England’s top scorer with 78 goals for the national team. Almost half of his goals came in the Premier League (213), followed by 89 in the Bundesliga. Kane has also excelled in the Champions League, scoring 48 goals, 18 more than Wayne Rooney. He scored in every competition he played.
How his record compares to other English greats
Greaves held the record as England’s top scorer for six decades until Kane overtook it two months ago. Kane left the Premier League as its second-highest scorer, behind Alan Shearer, who scored 260 goals. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Shearer ranks fourth among English all-time scorers with 409 goals. Steve Bloomer sits third with 412 goals, followed by Kane. Dixie Dean ranks fifth with 396 top-level goals, and Rooney sixth with 360. Kane now features among the greatest English goal scorers in history.
How Kane scored his goals
Kane mastered penalty kicks, scoring a fifth of his 500 goals from the spot. In open play, he thrives inside the box, netting 349 goals there. Most of his goals came from his right foot (318), while 94 were headers. The goal that marked his 500th was rare for Kane, struck from distance, and became one of 49 goals he scored outside the box. His versatility allows him to score in various ways, making him one of the most complete forwards of his generation.
How fast Kane reached 500 goals
Kane reached 500 goals in 743 appearances for club and country. He achieved the milestone faster than Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored his 500th in his 753rd professional match in 2015. Lionel Messi, however, remains the quickest, reaching 500 goals in his 632nd appearance in April 2016. Kane reached the landmark 111 matches later than Messi but still cemented his place among football’s elite finishers.
What other records Kane could break
Kane already holds England’s scoring record but can aim for more at club level. Robert Lewandowski set the Bundesliga single-season record with 41 goals in 2020-21. Kane sits on 26 goals with 12 games remaining, positioning him to surpass Lewandowski’s record. In European competitions, he could also break personal marks, having set the record as England’s highest scorer in a single Champions League campaign with 11 goals last term. He currently sits on eight goals, keeping the record within reach.
