In brief
Among the most unexpected people left out of the top 25 are Sir Geoff Hurst, Glenn Hoddle, and Ray Clemence.
Legendary footballers Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton are among the few players from the 1966 World Cup winning team that are included.
The so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of 2000s star players are also heavily represented.
There are many genuinely exceptional players from England. The Three Lions have had some of the best football players in history don the iconic white shirt, even if they haven’t won several big international trophies.
However, who is the all-time best England player? The answer to the question is almost impossible. It is simply necessary to include members of England’s legendary ‘Golden Generation’ and several of the 1966 World Cup winners in the argument.
By ranking the greatest players that have ever come from England, fans have spoken their opinions on the subject. The rankings on Ranker are, to put it mildly, contentious and are bound to generate a great deal of discussion. Below, we examine the top 25 in more detail.
The best England players in fans’ eyes
25Trent Alexander-Arnold
England Caps: 33
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive playmaking is enough for supporters to rank him in the top 25, even though he acknowledges that he would prefer to become the first right-back to win the Ballon d’Or than win the World Cup with his nation. The Liverpool player hasn’t got much to brag about on the international front; he has typically played as Kyle Walker’s backup in tournaments, and Gareth Southgate gave up on using him in midfield at Euro 2024 after only two games.
With Lee Carsley back in his regular role, the 25-year-old made a greater impression. It remains to be seen if Thomas Tuchel can bring out the best in a player who clearly possesses the skills to guide the Three Lions to success.
24 John Barnes Caps: 79 for England
John Barnes was an incredible football player. Barnes was a fantastic winger who, especially with Watford and Liverpool, dominated the English game. Because of the entertainment the winger offered while he was at Anfield, a certain generation of Liverpool supporters fell in love with the team.
Barnes scored 11 goals and made 79 appearances for England at the international level. There is no greater compliment for the Jamaican star than Jamie Carragher’s remark that Barnes was similar to Thierry Henry before Thierry Henry. Because of his efforts to combat racism in football, Barnes has gained more support from people all throughout the nation.
23 England Caps: 73 Sol Campbell
Under Arsene Wenger, Sol Campbell became a true great following the 2001 Tottenham to Arsenal disaster. A powerful, athletic, and intimidating defender with excellent positional awareness, Campbell was also a formidable tackler and is regarded as one of the greatest English center-backs of his period. He excelled in the air, both offensively and defensively, with to his height and physical strength, and this showed for his nation.
He proudly won 73 caps during his England career, and in 2006, he became the only player to represent the Three Lions in six major tournaments in a row. He participated in all of the European Championships from 1996 to 2004 and the World Cups from 1998 to 2006.
22 Peter Shilton, 125 England caps
The fact that England’s most-capped football player only ranks number 22 may indicate how underappreciated Peter Shilton was. Although he regrettably gave up the notorious Diego Maradona ‘Hand of God’ goal was his most memorable moment wearing a Three Lions jersey, Shilton was the rightful number one for twenty years.
Shilton made his debut in 1970, taking over for the great Gordon Banks. He went on to play in three World Cups and one European Championship. Shilton will live on in English football legend since there is currently just one other player who has amassed 120 caps or more.
21 Ian Wright Caps: 33 for England
As a commentator, Ian Wright is currently a well-liked personality in English football. ‘Wrighty’ has won over fans all around the nation with his positive demeanour. The 60-year-old used to be one of the Premier League’s most lethal strikers in addition to being a fun character.
Although it didn’t always convert to international football, his stints with Crystal Palace and Arsenal in particular demonstrated the poacher’s clinical nature. Wright, who was frequently disregarded when playing for the national team, only wore the renowned white shirt 33 times and scored nine goals during that period.
Caps for Jimmy Greaves’ England: 57
Jimmy Greaves enjoyed scoring goals. The 1966 World Cup winner scored 44 goals in 57 England appearances and 220 goals in 321 Tottenham games—both of which are absolutely incredible stats. The forward held the record for the most goals scored by the north London club for decades until Harry Kane finally overtook him.
Greaves tragically died in September 2021 at the age of 81. Greaves went on to become a very popular co-host on Saint and Greavsie. The legacy of the prolific goal scorer will endure, and Spurs and England supporters will always treasure the memories he left them.
19 Jude Bellingham Caps: 40 for England
The fact that a 21-year-old is among the top 20 players on this list is astounding. Consider the accomplishments of a few of the above named names. Jude Bellingham is a true Galactico, and everyone anticipates that the Real Madrid star will win at least one Ballon d’Or in the coming years.
The attack-minded midfielder’s move to Spain has boosted him to new heights, and he was largely responsible for England’s chances at Euro 2024. Naturally, it wasn’t meant to be, but the midfield star still took centre stage as his team advanced to the championship game. Above all, his last-second bicycle kick against Slovakia will be remembered as one of his country’s greatest goals.
18 Caps for England under Paul Gascoigne: 57
In addition to being one of the most gifted football players the nation has ever produced, Paul Gascoigne is also one of the most adored. Everybody who coached or played with ‘Gazza’ has a funny story about the talented former midfield player. The ‘dentist chair’ celebration, which mimics an occurrence from a night out, is one of the football legend’s funniest moments.
We all know Gazza had his troubles, but that doesn’t lessen the happiness he brought to millions of football fans each time he had a ball in his hands. The former midfield star will always be regarded as one of the most technically talented players England has ever produced, regardless of the difficulties he has encountered since hanging up his boots.
17Sir Stanley Matthews
England Caps: 54
For a real England great, “The Wizard of the Dribble” is a suitable moniker. While playing for Blackpool, Sir Stanley Matthews won the first-ever Ballon d’Or in 1956. Matthews won the Ballon d’Or at the incredible age of 41, making him the oldest champion in history.
Given that his career lasted an astounding 33 years, the fact that he was still deemed deserving of the honour at such a young age just serves to highlight how long-lived the guy is in the football world. It is forever remembered as the ‘Matthews Final’ because of a strong individual performance in the 1953 FA Cup final.
16 John Terry Caps: 78 for England
John Terry was perhaps the greatest captain of the Premier League era, and his impact on Chelsea from 1998 to 2017 cannot be overstated. On the pitch, ‘JT’ was a warrior who was invaluable to the Blues. Terry is still regarded as one of the best defenders in Premier League history despite his underappreciated skill with the ball. With the emphasis on defenders being able to play out from the back in today’s game, he wouldn’t appear out of place.
As one of the renowned ‘Golden Generation’ of England, Terry made 78 appearances for his nation and scored six goals. It’s even more amazing that the country didn’t experience success during that time because the former Chelsea player, along with Rio Ferdinand, was a mainstay at the centre of the England back line for many years.
15Rio Ferdinand
England Caps: 81
Rio Ferdinand, the eldest of two defensive brothers and the second cousin of fellow hero Les, had a career filled with accolades, particularly when playing for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage. With 709 career games, the dominant centre-back earned 15 club honours, including six Premier League crowns and one Champions League.
In stark contrast to his trophy-hunting exploits with the Red Devils, he played in 81 games for the Three Lions and was a key player for one of England’s most promising teams that never won a trophy. He has played in 504 games over 20 Premier League seasons, nevertheless, and is still regarded as a true legend. With an extremely outstanding 37.5 percent of the games he appeared in, he maintained 189 clean sheets in the competition.
Ashley Cole’s England caps total: 107
Ashley Cole is arguably the best left-back in English football history and is often regarded as the top full-back of the Premier League era. When he played for the Three Lions, he was typically a respectable eight or nine out of ten, and he occasionally even defeated Cristiano Ronaldo. Having faced the left-back numerous times for both club and country, the Portugal forward referred to Cole as his hardest opponent ever.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea great played for England from 2001 to 2014 and is one of nine players to gain 100 caps. Cole was far superior to any rival for a left-back spot in the squad, so his status in the starting lineup was never in question.
13Gordon Banks
England Caps: 73
Gordon Banks was in goal when England won the World Cup in 1966. He is a legendary goalie who made what is considered the best save in World Cup history, saving a shot from Brazilian legend Pele in the 1970 World Cup. When choosing England’s all-time best XI, many supporters would still pick Banks in goal.
Banks, who played club football for teams like Leicester City and Stoke City, is arguably the best ‘keeper ever produced in Britain, even if Shilton may have more England caps. The goalie’s career lasted nearly 20 years, and he kept playing until he was 40. The cry “what a save Gordon Banks” will never die because he made one of the best stops against none other than Pele. He tragically died in February 2019 at the age of 81.
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12Michael Owen
England Caps: 89
Michael Owen may have some regrets about his international career after making a splash with his amazing individual performance against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. The Liverpudlian, who was a talisman during England’s golden age, might have been able to win at least one major trophy while playing for the Three Lions, but it was not to be.
Owen’s stint at the top level was essentially cut short by a devastating injury sustained during the 2006 World Cup, only eight years after he made his debut on the international scene. Even with his incredible 40 goals in just 89 games, he would go down as one of his nation’s most outstanding goal scorers. Naturally, his ranks will also rise as the final Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or.
11 Kevin Keegan Caps: 63 for England
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was a genuine English superstar. The accomplishments of Kevin Keegan as a player are greatly underestimated. Younger readers might not know that Keegan played for Hamburg and won the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979. In actuality, he is the only player from England to have won the coveted individual award twice.
Keegan also managed the Three Lions for a short time before he famously resigned following a 1-0 loss to Germany on a soggy October 2000 afternoon, the final game at the former Wembley Stadium. It’s safe to argue that his accomplishments and on-field exploits, rather than his dugout exploits, are what England supporters remember him for.
10Gary Lineker
England Caps: 80
An Englishman who made it appear effortless to score goals. No matter where Lineker played—Everton, Tottenham, Barcelona, England, and more—goals were always forthcoming. The prolific attacker is among the all-time greatest scorers in English football history, having scored 256 goals over his storied career for both club and country. Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, and Sir Bobby Charlton are the only players in history to have scored more goals for the country.
Although Lineker is best known to younger football fans as the host of Match of the Day, he was quite effective in the penalty area. Many people consider the 63-year-old to be a national treasure, and his presence on prime-time television has kept him relevant.
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