Harry Kane made World Cup history in England's opener against Croatia, becoming the first player to score five penalties in the tournament. The goal moved him past Lionel Messi's previous mark of four. It came after a messy sequence in the opening minutes, when Kane saw one effort saved before getting a retake and taking full advantage.

Why Kane's goal matters beyond the early match drama

The headline is simple enough: Kane now stands alone for World Cup penalties scored. That is a niche record on paper, but not an empty one. Penalties in this tournament carry weight, pressure and scrutiny that few other moments in the game can match, and Kane has handled that stage often enough to set a mark nobody else has reached.

TalkSPORT's match correspondent summed it up directly: "Harry Kane has created history by becoming the first player to score five World Cup penalties."

This was also another reminder of just how productive Kane has been in the competition since 2018. He now has nine goals in 12 World Cup appearances. That is the sort of return that keeps dragging England through big moments, even when the route to the goal is not clean.

There is another layer to it for England too. Kane is now the second English player to score at three World Cups, following David Beckham, who found the net in 1998, 2002 and 2006. That does not settle any all-time arguments on its own, but it does place Kane in a very short line of England tournament scorers.

He also arrived at the tournament in strong form. Kane was rated 10 in his most recent Bundesliga match before the World Cup on May 16, 2026, after scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 win. That does not explain a penalty retake, but it does fit the wider picture of a striker who came into the competition looking sharp.

What happened with the penalty retake

The goal itself was far less straightforward than the record book will show. England vs Croatia had barely settled when Noni Madueke won the penalty after Luka Modrić fouled the Arsenal winger.

Kane stepped up and his first attempt was saved by Dominik Livaković. Then came the review. VAR identified Josko Gvardiol's encroachment and Livaković off his line, which triggered the retake.

That part matters, because there is no dispute in the reporting around why the second chance was given. The retake was not a vague technicality pulled from nowhere. Two separate infringements were flagged, and Kane was entitled to another shot.

He took it properly the second time, sending Livaković the wrong way. Daily Star's match correspondent described it as a "World Cup lifeline" after the initial miss, and that is fair enough. Kane still had to reset himself in public, in a high-pressure opener, and score the next one knowing the whole sequence was already under a microscope.

That is the part worth stressing. The first miss gave the moment some chaos, but the conversion still required nerve. Records built on penalties can sometimes get dismissed too quickly. In Kane's case, the pressure of the occasion is part of the achievement, not a reason to shrug at it.

Baturina gave Croatia a proper response

The game did not stay fixed on Kane for long. Martin Baturina pulled Croatia level with the best goal of the match, striking from outside the box into the top left corner.

Jordan Pickford got a hand to it but could not keep it out. It was the kind of finish that changes the conversation around a player quickly, especially on this stage.

Baturina is currently with Como in Serie A, and he has been reported as a target for Tottenham and Aston Villa with a €50 million bid. This was the sort of moment that explains the interest more clearly than transfer chatter ever can. His most recent Serie A rating was 7.3 on May 17, and this goal looked like a player comfortable taking responsibility rather than just filling a role.

Still, the lasting image from the opening phase of this match is Kane's record. Whatever happens in the rest of the game, he has already become the first player to reach five World Cup penalties, and he did it while moving his overall tournament return to nine goals in 12 appearances.

FAQ

How did Harry Kane break the World Cup penalty record against Croatia?

Kane became the first player to score five World Cup penalties when he converted a retake for England against Croatia. His first attempt was saved by Dominik Livaković, but a VAR review identified Josko Gvardiol encroaching and Livaković off his line, so the penalty was taken again.

Did Harry Kane move past Lionel Messi for World Cup penalties?

Yes. Kane's retaken penalty against Croatia gave him five World Cup penalties scored, which moved him past Lionel Messi's previous record of four. That made Kane the first player to reach five successful penalties in World Cup history.

How good is Harry Kane's World Cup scoring record since 2018?

Kane has scored nine goals in 12 World Cup appearances since his 2018 debut. That is a strong return in the tournament, and the Croatia goal also made him the second English player to score at three World Cups after David Beckham.

Who scored for Croatia against England and why was it notable?

Martin Baturina equalised for Croatia with a strike from outside the box into the top left corner. Jordan Pickford got a hand to it but could not keep it out. Baturina, who plays for Como, has also been reported as a target for Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →