There’s a new king in England. And this one’s not named Charles.
Harry Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s scoring record for England on Thursday with a goal in a European Championship 2024 qualifier against Italy. The score brought the 29-year-old striker’s goal total to 54.
The goal came in the 44th minute on a penalty kick to take a 2-0 lead over the team that defeated the Three Lions in dramatic fashion to take home the 2020 title.
“I was so excited to put the English back on and get back out here and get the campaign started for the Euros next year,” Kane said after the game, which England won 2-1. “It had to be a penalty, of course. Once it hit the back of the net, so much emotion.”
Kane missed an opportunity to break the national team record when he botched a penalty kick in England’s World Cup quarterfinal game against France. His successful penalty kick earlier in the match tied the record at 53. The Three Lions were knocked out of the tournament in a 2-1 loss.
Kane earned the scoring title faster than the former Manchester United star and current DC United coach. It took him 81 games after debuting for England in March of 2015 at 21 years old. Rooney became the all-time leading scorer with his 50th goal in September of 2018 in his 107th cap with Kane as his teammate. He scored his last goal with a penalty kick in his 120th appearance during England’s 2016 Euro loss to Iceland.
“Congratulations to @HKane on becoming @England’s all-time leading goalscorer,” Rooney said in a Twitter post. “I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick. Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend. Congratulations Harry.”
This comes a month after Kane became the all-time leading scorer for Tottenham Hotspur by scoring his 267th goal for the club in February. He is currently third in Premier League history with 204 goals in league play. He has a chance to take second place by passing Rooney’s 208 goals and can become the all-time Premier League scorer if he eclipses Alan Shearer’s 260.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harry Kane breaks Wayne Rooney’s England scoring record