The 48 Greatest England National Team Players of All Time

The class of 1966 lines up against the golden generation and the recent Euro finalists. Caps, goals and big-tournament moments all make a case.

1. 1
   Bobby Charlton

   Attacking midfielder and 1966 world champion who was England's record scorer for over four decades.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Bobby Moore

   Defender who captained England to the 1966 World Cup title and won 108 caps.
   783pts
3. 3
   Bukayo Saka

   Winger who became a key attacker for England at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
   764pts
4. 4
   Roger Hunt

   Striker who scored three goals for England at the 1966 World Cup.
   619pts
5. 5
   David Beckham

   Midfielder and long-time captain known for his crossing and free kicks across 115 caps.
   619pts
6. 6
   Johnny Haynes

   Playmaking inside forward who captained England in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
   582pts
7. 7
   Gary Lineker

   Golden Boot winner at the 1986 World Cup who scored 48 goals for England.
   582pts
8. 8
   Peter Shilton

   Goalkeeper who holds England's appearance record with 125 caps.
   582pts
9. 9
   Alan Ball

   Tireless midfielder who was the youngest member of the 1966 world champions.
   582pts
10. 10
    Harry Maguire

    Centre-back who scored in the 2018 World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.
    553pts
11. 11
    Paul Gascoigne

    Gifted playmaker whose tears at Italia 90 and goal against Scotland at Euro 96 became iconic.
    541pts
12. 12
    John Terry

    Commanding centre-back who captained England during the 2000s.
    494pts
13. 13
    Kevin Keegan

    Two-time Ballon d'Or winner who captained England in the late 1970s.
    494pts
14. 14
    Stuart Pearce

    Fierce left-back nicknamed Psycho who famously buried his Euro 96 penalty.
    494pts
15. 15
    Nat Lofthouse

    Centre-forward known as the Lion of Vienna who scored 30 goals in 33 games.
    494pts
16. 16
    Michael Owen

    Striker whose solo goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup made him a star at 18.
    494pts
17. 17
    Jordan Pickford

    Goalkeeper whose shootout saves helped England end its penalty curse in 2018.
    494pts
18. 18
    Tom Finney

    Versatile forward who scored 30 goals for England in the post-war era.
    442pts
19. 19
    Jimmy Greaves

    Prolific striker who scored 44 goals in only 57 games for England.
    442pts
20. 20
    Stanley Matthews

    Winger nicknamed the Wizard of the Dribble who played for England across 23 years.
    442pts
21. 21
    Harry Kane

    Captain and England's all-time top scorer, a Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup.
    442pts
22. 22
    Gordon Banks

    Goalkeeper of the 1966 world champions, famed for his save from Pelé at the 1970 World Cup.
    442pts
23. 23
    Steven Gerrard

    Driving midfielder who won 114 caps and captained England at two major tournaments.
    442pts
24. 24
    Glenn Hoddle

    Visionary midfielder with 53 caps, later England manager.
    383pts
25. 25
    Geoff Hurst

    Striker who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.
    383pts
26. 26
    Tony Adams

    Centre-back who captained England and anchored the Euro 96 defence.
    383pts
27. 27
    Emlyn Hughes

    Defender who captained England 23 times in the 1970s.
    383pts
28. 28
    David Seaman

    Goalkeeper who was the penalty-saving hero of Euro 96.
    316pts
29. 29
    Duncan Edwards

    Powerful midfielder capped 18 times before his death in the Munich air disaster.
    316pts
30. 30
    Billy Wright

    Centre-half who was the first player in the world to win 100 international caps.
    316pts
31. 31
    Jack Charlton

    Centre-half alongside Bobby Moore in the 1966 World Cup-winning defence.
    316pts
32. 32
    Teddy Sheringham

    Forward whose link play with Alan Shearer powered England at Euro 96.
    316pts
33. 33
    Declan Rice

    Holding midfielder at the centre of England's Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals.
    316pts
34. 34
    Bryan Robson

    Box-to-box midfielder known as Captain Marvel who led England through the 1980s.
    316pts
35. 35
    Ashley Cole

    Left-back regarded as one of the world's best in his position, with 107 caps.
    238pts
36. 36
    Kyle Walker

    Pacy right-back who started at three straight major tournaments that reached the semi-finals or later.
    238pts
37. 37
    Paul Scholes

    Midfielder who scored 14 goals for England at Euro 2000 and two World Cups.
    238pts
38. 38
    Martin Peters

    Midfielder who scored in the 1966 World Cup final.
    238pts
39. 39
    Peter Beardsley

    Creative forward who partnered Gary Lineker at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.
    238pts
40. 40
    Gary Neville

    Right-back who won 85 caps across three major tournaments in a row.
    238pts
41. 41
    Frank Lampard

    Goal-scoring midfielder with 29 goals in 106 England appearances.
    238pts
42. 42
    Rio Ferdinand

    Elegant centre-back who starred at the 2002 World Cup and won 81 caps.
    238pts
43. 43
    David Platt

    Midfielder whose last-minute volley against Belgium lit up Italia 90.
    238pts
44. 44
    Raheem Sterling

    Forward who was England's standout player on the run to the Euro 2020 final.
    238pts
45. 45
    Sol Campbell

    Centre-back named in the team of the tournament at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
    147pts
46. 46
    Alan Shearer

    Striker who won the Golden Boot at Euro 96 and captained England.
    147pts
47. 47
    Jude Bellingham

    Midfielder whose overhead kick against Slovakia rescued England at Euro 2024.
    147pts
48. 48
    Wayne Rooney

    Forward who scored 53 goals in 120 caps and held England's scoring record for years.
    0pts

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