‘Perfect night’ – Harry Kane surpassed Wayne Rooney record with stunning bicycle kick in rout

Harry Kane will have fond memories of playing against Albania. England face The Red and Blacks in their World Cup qualifier in March in what will be Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge since being hired. Kane broke one of Rooney’s England record’s nearly four years agoGetty Luckily for Tuchel, he has plenty of experience in his ranks to get that qualification campaign off to the perfect start at Wembley. That’s because in his ranks he has England’s record goalscorer in Bayern Munich striker Kane. Four years ago, he broke the first of Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring records when he hit a hat-trick against Albania. Kane’s treble meant that he leapfrogged Rooney’s record of most competitive goals for England.  The Man United legend had 37 in his illustrious career, while the current England captain went from 36 to 39 in that very game. His third and final goal in that game was a stunning bicycle kick that completed a perfect hat-trick – the first Three Lions player to do that since David Platt in 1993. On social media after the game he called it a ‘perfect night’. Speaking after the game, Kane said: “Number four- the perfect one. Nice game. Good night all round and obviously a great team performance. It was nice to get the hat-trick – hopefully, a few more.” He made good on that promise the very next game as he hit four against San Marino. You can be sure that he keeps them all in a safe place too as he told talkSPORT after the match: “I put it in a little glass box and keep them. When the kids grow up, hopefully it will give them a bit of motivation. Kane keeps all of his hat-trick balls in a glass box at homeX “It’s nice to have them around the house and remind yourself of what you are doing and what you can achieve.” Just two years later, Kane would go on to break Rooney’s overall England goalscoring record (53) and cement his legacy as the greatest ever Three Lions forward. “It means everything,” he said at the time. “I was so excited to put the England shirt on and get back out here and get the campaign started for next year’s Euros. “It had to be a penalty and once it hit the back of the net, huge emotion. A magical moment.” Rooney was quick to congratulate Kane too, writing on social media: “Congratulations to Harry Kane on becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer. PlayerGoalsGamesHarry Kane69103Wayne Rooney53120Sir Bobby Charlton49106Gary Lineker4880Jimmy Greaves4457Michael Owen4089Sir Tom Finney3076Nat Lofthouse3033Alan Shearer3063Frank Lampard29106 “I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick. Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend.” The now 31-year-old has taken his total Three Lions tally to 69 and will be hoping to add many more under new boss Thomas Tuchel.

Mar 20, 2025 - 16:40
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‘Perfect night’ – Harry Kane surpassed Wayne Rooney record with stunning bicycle kick in rout

Harry Kane will have fond memories of playing against Albania.

England face The Red and Blacks in their World Cup qualifier in March in what will be Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge since being hired.

Harry Kane of England scores a goal during a soccer match.
Kane broke one of Rooney’s England record’s nearly four years ago
Getty

Luckily for Tuchel, he has plenty of experience in his ranks to get that qualification campaign off to the perfect start at Wembley.

That’s because in his ranks he has England’s record goalscorer in Bayern Munich striker Kane.

Four years ago, he broke the first of Wayne Rooney’s goalscoring records when he hit a hat-trick against Albania.

Kane’s treble meant that he leapfrogged Rooney’s record of most competitive goals for England. 

The Man United legend had 37 in his illustrious career, while the current England captain went from 36 to 39 in that very game.

His third and final goal in that game was a stunning bicycle kick that completed a perfect hat-trick – the first Three Lions player to do that since David Platt in 1993.

On social media after the game he called it a ‘perfect night’.

Speaking after the game, Kane said: “Number four- the perfect one. Nice game. Good night all round and obviously a great team performance. It was nice to get the hat-trick – hopefully, a few more.”

He made good on that promise the very next game as he hit four against San Marino.

You can be sure that he keeps them all in a safe place too as he told talkSPORT after the match: “I put it in a little glass box and keep them. When the kids grow up, hopefully it will give them a bit of motivation.

Harry Kane holding a signed hat-trick ball with teammates on a bus.
Kane keeps all of his hat-trick balls in a glass box at home
X

“It’s nice to have them around the house and remind yourself of what you are doing and what you can achieve.”

Just two years later, Kane would go on to break Rooney’s overall England goalscoring record (53) and cement his legacy as the greatest ever Three Lions forward.

“It means everything,” he said at the time.

“I was so excited to put the England shirt on and get back out here and get the campaign started for next year’s Euros.

“It had to be a penalty and once it hit the back of the net, huge emotion. A magical moment.”

Rooney was quick to congratulate Kane too, writing on social media: “Congratulations to Harry Kane on becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer.

PlayerGoalsGames
Harry Kane69103
Wayne Rooney53120
Sir Bobby Charlton49106
Gary Lineker4880
Jimmy Greaves4457
Michael Owen4089
Sir Tom Finney3076
Nat Lofthouse3033
Alan Shearer3063
Frank Lampard29106

“I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick. Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend.”

The now 31-year-old has taken his total Three Lions tally to 69 and will be hoping to add many more under new boss Thomas Tuchel.