Harry Kane etched his name into the FIFA World Cup record books on Sunday, although not entirely for the reason he would have wanted, during England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16.The England captain became the first player since at least 1966 to both score and concede a penalty in the same World Cup match, achieving a rare statistical feat as the Three Lions battled into the quarter-finals.Kane initially looked set to be remembered solely for another clinical display in front of goal.With England reduced to 10 men following Jarell Quansah’s red card early in the second half, the striker stepped up under immense pressure after Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel brought down Anthony Gordon inside the penalty area.Kane calmly converted from the spot to restore England’s two-goal advantage, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament and the 14th World Cup goal of his career. The strike saw him draw level with West Germany legend Gerd Müller for fifth on the competition’s all-time scoring charts.His latest goal also moved him to within one strike of Golden Boot leaders Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.However, Kane’s evening took an unexpected turn later in the match.As Mexico pushed desperately for a comeback, the England captain committed a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Raúl Jiménez the chance to reduce the deficit from the spot. The experienced striker converted with a composed stutter-step penalty, making it 3-2 and ensuring Kane entered the record books as the first player in at least six decades to both score and concede a penalty in the same World Cup game.The late goal set up a tense finish as Mexico piled forward in search of an equaliser.Backed by more than 80,000 fans at the Estadio Azteca, the co-hosts launched wave after wave of attacks during the closing stages and 11 minutes of stoppage time. But Jordan Pickford and England’s defence stood firm to preserve the victory.The win secured England a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the third successive tournament, where they will face Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Gardens for a place in the last four.While Jude Bellingham’s stunning 98-second first-half brace stole many of the headlines, Kane’s eventful night added another remarkable chapter to his already outstanding World Cup career, combining a landmark scoring achievement with one of the tournament’s rarest statistical records.
