Harry Kane, the captain of the England football team, has credited the high standards set by legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for his readiness to perform in crucial moments. Following a pivotal display in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, where he helped secure a 2-1 comeback victory against Congo DR, Kane emphasized the importance of extensive recovery, training, and preparation.

Kane, who netted two goals in the second half to save England from an unexpected exit, remarked that sustaining elite performance over time demands dedication beyond the public eye. He stated, "The unseen efforts during training, recovery sessions, ice baths, and treatments are essential for maintaining peak performance. Messi and Ronaldo exemplify this commitment. I felt fit and knew that my preparation would enable me to seize big moments, which is exactly what occurred today."

Initially, England faced the threat of an early exit when Brian Cipenga scored for Congo DR in the seventh minute. The African team defended strongly, maintaining their lead into halftime and frustrating England, who dominated possession. Coach Thomas Tuchel made strategic substitutions, bringing on Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, followed by Eberechi Eze, which intensified England's offensive efforts. These changes proved effective, with Gordon assisting both of Kane's goals.

Kane equalized in the 75th minute with a composed finish and scored again in the 86th minute, securing England's place in the Round of 16 against co-hosts Mexico. This performance elevated Kane in the World Cup scoring rankings, allowing him to surpass Pele and tie with Just Fontaine, amassing 13 World Cup goals and ranking sixth on the all-time scoring list. Additionally, he became the first English player to score five or more goals in two different World Cups and is now just one goal shy of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race for this tournament.

This victory marked England's first World Cup win after trailing at halftime and only the second instance of recovering from an initial deficit to win a knockout match, the first being in the 1966 final against West Germany. England also extended their unbeaten streak against African teams in World Cup matches to 10, the longest such record by any nation against CAF teams. Furthermore, Gordon made history as the first player since 1966 to achieve two assists as a substitute in a World Cup knockout match.