Harry Kane Eyes Peter Shilton Record as Caps Pile Up in England’s ‘New Era’
March 25, 2025 – England football captain Harry Kane has set his sights on surpassing Peter Shilton’s longstanding record of 125 caps as he continues to lead the Three Lions into what he calls a “new era” under head coach Thomas Tuchel. Kane, who celebrated his 10-year anniversary with the national team this week, marked the occasion with a goal in England’s 3-0 victory over Latvia on Monday, bringing his international tally to 71 goals in 105 appearances.
The Bayern Munich striker, now 31, reflected on his decade-long journey since his debut against Lithuania in March 2015, where he scored just 79 seconds after coming off the bench. “It’s been a great journey, a lot of ups, a lot of downs,” Kane said in a post-match press conference. “Now it’s a new era, a new chapter, and I’m even more excited to hopefully have more years here and get far in tournaments.” With 20 caps separating him from Shilton’s record—set by the legendary goalkeeper between 1970 and 1990—Kane remains determined to keep adding to his tally. “It’s definitely there,” he said of the record. “I’ve made it clear I want to play for England as long as possible.”
Kane’s recent form under Tuchel, who took charge earlier this month, has been promising. He scored in both of the German manager’s first two games—against Albania and Latvia—signaling a strong start to this latest chapter for England. The team’s sights are firmly set on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Kane believes the upcoming schedule offers ample opportunity to close the gap on Shilton. “Leading up to the World Cup, there are plenty of games before then and hopefully eight games in that tournament,” he noted, referencing the potential for a deep run in the competition.
Already England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Kane overtook Wayne Rooney’s mark of 53 goals in March 2023 and has since extended his record with clinical consistency. His 105 caps place him joint-ninth on England’s all-time appearance list alongside Billy Wright, with only a handful of icons—Shilton (125), Rooney (120), David Beckham (115), Steven Gerrard (114), and Bobby Moore (108)—ahead of him. At his current pace, and with no intention of retiring from international duty, Kane could climb into the top five as early as next year.
However, the road to Shilton’s record won’t be without challenges. Kane’s club commitments with Bayern Munich, who are chasing the Bundesliga title and competing in the UEFA Champions League, will be followed by the revamped FIFA Club World Cup this summer. With an international window squeezed in between, the England skipper faces a grueling schedule with little downtime. “I don’t think the players are listened to that much, if I’m totally honest,” Kane admitted when asked about fixture congestion. “But it is what it is. I love playing football, so I’m never going to complain about playing football.”
Kane’s resilience and passion have been hallmarks of his international career, which includes captaining England to the UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024 finals, a 2018 World Cup semi-final, and a Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer in Russia. Now, with Tuchel’s fresh energy steering the squad, Kane sees a chance to finally deliver the major trophy England has craved since 1966. “I’m even more excited to hopefully have more years here and have those special moments in this country and try to give the fans what we all so desperately want,” he said.
As Kane continues to pile up caps and goals, Shilton’s record—once thought untouchable in an era with fewer international fixtures—appears increasingly within reach. For now, England’s captain remains focused on the present, but the prospect of becoming the nation’s most-capped player looms as a tantalizing milestone in his storied career.