# 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.

*By YPB Team · Published October 28, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-48-greatest-england-national-team-players-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Bobby Charlton** — score 1000/1000
   Attacking midfielder and 1966 world champion who was England's record scorer for over four decades.
2. **Bobby Moore** — score 783/1000
   Defender who captained England to the 1966 World Cup title and won 108 caps.
3. **Bukayo Saka** — score 764/1000
   Winger who became a key attacker for England at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
4. **Roger Hunt** — score 619/1000
   Striker who scored three goals for England at the 1966 World Cup.
5. **David Beckham** — score 619/1000
   Midfielder and long-time captain known for his crossing and free kicks across 115 caps.
6. **Johnny Haynes** — score 582/1000
   Playmaking inside forward who captained England in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
7. **Gary Lineker** — score 582/1000
   Golden Boot winner at the 1986 World Cup who scored 48 goals for England.
8. **Peter Shilton** — score 582/1000
   Goalkeeper who holds England's appearance record with 125 caps.
9. **Alan Ball** — score 582/1000
   Tireless midfielder who was the youngest member of the 1966 world champions.
10. **Harry Maguire** — score 553/1000
   Centre-back who scored in the 2018 World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.
11. **Paul Gascoigne** — score 541/1000
   Gifted playmaker whose tears at Italia 90 and goal against Scotland at Euro 96 became iconic.
12. **John Terry** — score 494/1000
   Commanding centre-back who captained England during the 2000s.
13. **Kevin Keegan** — score 494/1000
   Two-time Ballon d'Or winner who captained England in the late 1970s.
14. **Stuart Pearce** — score 494/1000
   Fierce left-back nicknamed Psycho who famously buried his Euro 96 penalty.
15. **Nat Lofthouse** — score 494/1000
   Centre-forward known as the Lion of Vienna who scored 30 goals in 33 games.
16. **Michael Owen** — score 494/1000
   Striker whose solo goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup made him a star at 18.
17. **Jordan Pickford** — score 494/1000
   Goalkeeper whose shootout saves helped England end its penalty curse in 2018.
18. **Tom Finney** — score 442/1000
   Versatile forward who scored 30 goals for England in the post-war era.
19. **Jimmy Greaves** — score 442/1000
   Prolific striker who scored 44 goals in only 57 games for England.
20. **Stanley Matthews** — score 442/1000
   Winger nicknamed the Wizard of the Dribble who played for England across 23 years.
21. **Harry Kane** — score 442/1000
   Captain and England's all-time top scorer, a Golden Boot winner at the 2018 World Cup.
22. **Gordon Banks** — score 442/1000
   Goalkeeper of the 1966 world champions, famed for his save from Pelé at the 1970 World Cup.
23. **Steven Gerrard** — score 442/1000
   Driving midfielder who won 114 caps and captained England at two major tournaments.
24. **Glenn Hoddle** — score 383/1000
   Visionary midfielder with 53 caps, later England manager.
25. **Geoff Hurst** — score 383/1000
   Striker who scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.
26. **Tony Adams** — score 383/1000
   Centre-back who captained England and anchored the Euro 96 defence.
27. **Emlyn Hughes** — score 383/1000
   Defender who captained England 23 times in the 1970s.
28. **David Seaman** — score 316/1000
   Goalkeeper who was the penalty-saving hero of Euro 96.
29. **Duncan Edwards** — score 316/1000
   Powerful midfielder capped 18 times before his death in the Munich air disaster.
30. **Billy Wright** — score 316/1000
   Centre-half who was the first player in the world to win 100 international caps.
31. **Jack Charlton** — score 316/1000
   Centre-half alongside Bobby Moore in the 1966 World Cup-winning defence.
32. **Teddy Sheringham** — score 316/1000
   Forward whose link play with Alan Shearer powered England at Euro 96.
33. **Declan Rice** — score 316/1000
   Holding midfielder at the centre of England's Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals.
34. **Bryan Robson** — score 316/1000
   Box-to-box midfielder known as Captain Marvel who led England through the 1980s.
35. **Ashley Cole** — score 238/1000
   Left-back regarded as one of the world's best in his position, with 107 caps.
36. **Kyle Walker** — score 238/1000
   Pacy right-back who started at three straight major tournaments that reached the semi-finals or later.
37. **Paul Scholes** — score 238/1000
   Midfielder who scored 14 goals for England at Euro 2000 and two World Cups.
38. **Martin Peters** — score 238/1000
   Midfielder who scored in the 1966 World Cup final.
39. **Peter Beardsley** — score 238/1000
   Creative forward who partnered Gary Lineker at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.
40. **Gary Neville** — score 238/1000
   Right-back who won 85 caps across three major tournaments in a row.
41. **Frank Lampard** — score 238/1000
   Goal-scoring midfielder with 29 goals in 106 England appearances.
42. **Rio Ferdinand** — score 238/1000
   Elegant centre-back who starred at the 2002 World Cup and won 81 caps.
43. **David Platt** — score 238/1000
   Midfielder whose last-minute volley against Belgium lit up Italia 90.
44. **Raheem Sterling** — score 238/1000
   Forward who was England's standout player on the run to the Euro 2020 final.
45. **Sol Campbell** — score 147/1000
   Centre-back named in the team of the tournament at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
46. **Alan Shearer** — score 147/1000
   Striker who won the Golden Boot at Euro 96 and captained England.
47. **Jude Bellingham** — score 147/1000
   Midfielder whose overhead kick against Slovakia rescued England at Euro 2024.
48. **Wayne Rooney** — score 0/1000
   Forward who scored 53 goals in 120 caps and held England's scoring record for years.

Tags: football, players, england, national teams