Kane breaks England caps record and vows to push limits inspired by 41-year-old Modric

Harry Kane broke the men’s England appearance record on Thursday, earning his 126th cap and scoring a penalty to seal a 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Croatia at a sold-out Wembley Stadium — then declared his intention to play on for as long as his body allows, inspired by 41-year-old Luka Modric.

The 33-year-old captain walked out to a giant tifo reading ‘England’s finest’ and was honoured before kick-off by the Prince of Wales and former record holder Peter Shilton, who had held the men’s mark Kane surpassed. The Croatian federation also presented Kane with a gift in recognition of the milestone.

“It was incredible, just everything was amazing,” Kane said after the match. “A big thank you to everyone who organised it here at the FA, with the tifo and presentations. Thank you to Luka and the Croatian organisation for their gift as well. It’s been a crazy few weeks with a lot happening and of course it’s an important moment in our history as a national team, so you have to enjoy these moments.”

Kane admitted he was “trying to play it cool” when he walked out to the banner, but acknowledged the weight of the occasion once the final whistle had gone, remaining on the Wembley pitch long after the game alongside friends and family.

Modric, who extended his own Croatian caps record to 207 after appearing as a substitute at Wembley, drew a warm reception from the home crowd — and clearly left an impression on Kane. The Croatian midfielder, still playing at the highest level at 41, has become a benchmark for Kane’s own ambitions.

“He’s an inspiration for a lot of us,” Kane said. “What an incredible player, but what a great person as well and someone who’s looked after himself. A great professional and to be playing 40, 41 now, still at this level, is credit to all of his hard work and his mentality. So, yeah, that inspires me to push the limits. Like with him, I think you just keep going to see how far your body takes you, your mentality takes you.”

Kane now sits just eight international goals short of 100 — a landmark that would cement his status as one of England’s greatest-ever players. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and his sights set beyond it, the England captain shows no sign of stepping back from the international stage.