Harry Kane's Position Among England’s Top Scorers Excluding Penalties

Harry Kane holds the record as England’s top scorer with 65 goals, surpassing Wayne Rooney in March 2023 after scoring a penalty against Italy during the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Yet, when penalties are removed from the equation, his rank among England’s all-time scorers changes.

Kane Overtakes Rooney but Penalties Affect His Non-Penalty Goal Ranking

Kane has netted 21 penalties out of 25 attempts for England, meaning he has 44 goals from open play. This number positions him differently compared to other legends who scored fewer penalty goals.

England’s Leading Non-Penalty Scorers

• Bobby Charlton: 46 non-penalty goals (49 total, 3 penalties)
• Wayne Rooney: 46 non-penalty goals (53 total, 7 penalties)
• Gary Lineker: 44 non-penalty goals (48 total, 4 penalties)
• Harry Kane: 44 non-penalty goals (65 total, 21 penalties)

Among these, Sir Bobby Charlton tops the list without considering penalties. He scored 49 goals in 106 matches, with only three penalties. Rooney and Kane share the next spot with 46 and 44 non-penalty goals respectively, while Gary Lineker closely follows with 44.

Penalty Goals and Expected Goal Values

Penalties carry a high expected goal value of 0.76, indicating they often result in goals. Kane’s 21 successful penalties contribute significantly to his overall tally, but excluding them shifts his ranking.

Kane’s Legacy and Future Prospects

Despite the difference in rankings when penalties are excluded, Kane remains England’s highest scorer overall. The Tottenham Hotspur forward has set a new benchmark and continues to be a leading figure for future English generations.