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England are the perennial underachievers of international football, and have been ever since their 1966 World Cup triumph under Sir Alf Ramsey. That remains the only piece of silverware in the Wembley trophy cabinet, and after the Three Lions’ European Championship final defeat to Spain in July, a success-starved fanbase is guaranteed at least another two years of hurt.
It’s hard not to look back on the last 25 years, in particular, with a real sense of what could, and probably should, have been. England were beaten finalists twice at the Euros under Gareth Southgate, and made it to the last four at the 2018 World Cup. When the late Sven Goran Eriksson was the helm between 2001 and 2006, the Three Lions reached the quarter-finals at three successive major tournaments, losing two on penalties.
In between, there was a lean period in which expectations dropped dramatically, with Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson all proving ill-equipped for the demands of football’s ‘impossible job’. But in each of these three eras, England were able to call upon some of the best players in the world.
Very few of them could honestly say they performed to their maximum in all of the most important games. There were times when a lack of mental toughness was evident, or questionable tactics hindered their progress, but it wasn’t all bad by any means. England’s top performers of the century so far deserve recognition for making the country believe again, and GOAL is on hand to rank the top 25…
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Getty25James Milner (61 caps, one goal)
It took seven years for Milner to get into the England squad following his breakthrough at Leeds United in 2002, after he’d broken the record for the most caps at Under-21 level. He became a fixture in the squad after his senior debut in a friendly clash with the Netherlands, playing at two World Cups and one European Championship, and always gave everything.
Milner was a utility player for the Three Lions and only scored one international goal, but his versatility made him a useful asset, particularly during the Hodgson regime. There are few more tenacious and reliable players in the game even now, with Milner still going strong at the age of 38, and the former Manchester City and Liverpool star added real steel to the England team while always setting a shining example with his professionalism.
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Getty24Luke Shaw (34 caps, three goals)
Shaw probably would have been the best left-back of his generation had it not been for his constant battles with injuries. He’s an intelligent defender and a real weapon going forward when fully fit and firing, which has been rare at Manchester United, but many of his best displays have come in an England shirt.
Reaching 15 major tournament appearances is no easy feat, with Shaw managing to leave a lasting mark at Euro 2020 especially. His industry and guile on the left helped England reach the final, and his superb second-minute volley in the showpiece against Italy might have set them on their way to glory under a less conservative manager.
The Three Lions haven’t had a left-back that holds a candle to Shaw in the last six years, which was evident again at the latest Euros as he was only available to start one game. Without him, England looked completely disjointed, and fans will be praying he can finally get back to peak physical condition in time for the 2026 World Cup.
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Getty23Gareth Barry (53 caps, three goals)
It took seven years for Barry to reach nine England caps after his initial debut in 2000, but he would go on to become a key figure under both McClaren and Capello during a frustrating transitional phase. Barry was a master at breaking up play and did the dirty work to help free up Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, while also serving as the main link between defence and attack.
Between 2007 and 2012, Barry was the most consistent performer in the England squad, and probably deserved more credit. The former Manchester City and Aston Villa star was a proper all-rounder, boasting an impeccable passing range and fierce competitive edge. Barry couldn’t get the Three Lions roaring again, but that wasn’t down to a lack of effort, and his presence was missed after Hodgson essentially forced him to hang up his international boots early.
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Getty22Harry Maguire (64 caps, seven goals)
Most Manchester United fans would agree that Maguire has not lived up to his £80 million ($106m) price tag since moving to Old Trafford from Leicester City in 2019. But in an England shirt, the defender has barely put a foot wrong.
Maguire was colossal during the Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup as he forged a strong partnership with John Stones that has stood the test of time. Stones has always been the more technically gifted of the two, but Maguire complimented him perfectly with his authoritative style and aerial prowess.
The United star’s passing skills are underrated, too, and he brought real composure to the England backline in the most important matches, which is why he now has an impressive haul of 17 major tournament appearances on his CV.
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Getty21Jude Bellingham (36 caps, five goals)
It’s easy to forget that Bellingham is still only 21 years old. He went from a promising academy graduate at Birmingham City to a €103m (£88m/$110m) player at Real Madrid in the space of just four years, and has already been touted as a future England captain.
Bellingham is an intelligent box-to-box midfielder who is just as effective going forward as he is in defence. Even when not quite at his best, the former Borussia Dortmund man is always capable of being a difference-maker. He proved it again with his spectacular last-gasp equaliser in England’s last-16 clash with Slovakia at Euro 2024, and he will be the one England turn to for inspiration again at the next World Cup in two years’ time.
The technical side of his game still needs a bit of work, but Bellingham is already well on his way to becoming an unstoppable force of nature. England have a generational talent on their hands, one who could well lead them to great things in the coming years.
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AFP20Peter Crouch (42 caps, 22 goals)
Standing at 6’7 with a skinny frame and languid way about him, Crouch was an unorthodox striker who was often underestimated. He used that to his advantage at Portsmouth, Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke City to become a Premier League cult hero, and exceeded all expectations whenever he wore the Three Lions for his country.
Crouch managed to maintain a strike rate of a goal every other game for England, despite being in and out of the starting XI throughout his five-year spell in the national team set-up, which was a testament to how much of a threat he was in the box. Almost unstoppable in the air and surprisingly nimble with the ball at his feet, Crouch was a natural goal-scorer with an underappreciated footballing brain. He also gave us the robot celebration, and for that alone will always be fondly remembered by supporters.
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Getty19Declan Rice (60 caps, four goals)
Rice started his international career with Ireland, but switched allegiance to England in 2019, and soon caught the attention of Southgate with his all-action displays at club level for West Ham. The combative midfielder gradually made himself indispensable, and was one of England’s standout performers at Euro 2020 as he struck up a strong partnership with Kalvin Phillips in a double pivot.
The Three Lions reached a new level with Rice on hand to break up play and carry the ball forward. He has set the tempo with his passing and England have also reaped the rewards of the extra work he’s put in to improve the attacking side of his game since a big-money move to Arsenal in 2023.
The future is bright for England with Rice leading the midfield. The 25-year-old doesn’t get the same credit as the flashier players, but there is no one more important to the team’s harmony, and he’ll only keep getting better as he heads into the prime years of his career.
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Getty18John Stones (81 caps, three goals)
Stones was ever-present in Southgate’s line up in all of England’s last four cracks at major tournament glory, and for good reason. The Manchester City ace is a classy operator with outstanding positional sense and vision, which allows him to stay one step ahead of his opponents at all times.
England can also count on Stones to drive out of the defence and draw players towards him, opening up space between the lines. Were it not for his presence, the Three Lions simply would not have reached the heights they have over the past eight years, especially at Euro 2024.
A lot of key players were guilty of underperforming in Germany, but Stones was a beacon of excellence, and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side in the final against Spain. Fortunately for England, Stones has shown no sign of slowing down since turning 30, and will surely be the first name on the teamsheet for whoever is eventually chosen to succeed Southgate on a permanent basis.
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Getty17Kyle Walker (90 caps, one goal)
England have had insane depth at right-back in recent years, with Trent-Alexander Arnold, Reece James Ben White and Kieran Trippier among those to have been in the mix for regular minutes. But there has never been any doubt over the No.1 in that coveted position, as Walker has seen off all competition in emphatic style, transferring his sensational form for Man City to the international stage seamlessly, making the Euros Team of the Tournament on two occasions.
No one has done more to try and end England’s long wait for silverware than Walker. His incredible pace and stamina allows him to cover every blade of grass from the first minute to last, and he very rarely comes off second best in one-on-one duels, most famously getting the better of Kylian Mbappe at the 2022 World Cup.
Walker did have a night to forget in the Euro 2024 final, but that shouldn’t detract from what a fantastic servant he has been for England. He will be 36 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, but don’t bet against the former Tottenham man rolling back the clock for one last bid to land the iconic trophy.
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Getty16Sol Campbell (73 caps, one goal)
Campbell was already a key member of the England squad at the turn of the century. He featured in all three of their group games in a disappointing Euro 2000 campaign that ultimately led to Kevin Keegan’s resignation, and retained his place in the team when Eriksson took over as manager the following year.
England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ was starting to emerge ahead of the 2002 World Cup, but they never really hit top gear at the tournament, eventually exiting at the quarter-final stage against Brazil. That wasn’t for the want of trying on Campbell’s part, though, as he earned a place in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team, after outshining all of England’s budding superstars.
Campbell would go on to become the first England player to appear at six consecutive major tournaments. At his very best, the former Arsenal star was an elite centre-half who never shirked from a challenge, and was unfortunate not to achieve more with his country.
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Getty15Jordan Pickford (70 caps)
Pickford has been pivotal to England’s recent success, having initially been handed the No.1 goalkeeper’s jersey in 2018. He has posted more major tournament clean sheets than any other Three Lions ‘keeper in history and holds the national-team record for the most consecutive minutes without conceding (725), and that’s not just because he’s had a strong defence in front of him.
The Everton star has lightning-fast reflexes that have helped him pull off countless saves to bail England out of trouble, including five in penalty shootouts – more than double all other goalkeepers to have represented the country managed between them between 1990 and 2012. There have been times when mistakes have crept into Pickford’s game for the Toffees, but he’s been faultless at international level and his fierce competitive energy has been infectious.
The Three Lions have also been reliant on Pickford’s superb distribution. He is the one who kick-starts England’s build-up play, staying calm under pressure at all times. Pickford is capable of turning defence to attack in the blink of an eye with his long passing and superhuman throwing ability, and will be almost impossible to replace when he eventually hangs up his gloves.
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Getty14Gary Neville (85 caps)
Only 14 players have won more England caps than Neville, with 51 of his 85 appearances coming between 2000 and 2007 – when he was in the prime of his career. Neville was a tenacious right-back with a high footballing IQ and very rarely had any off days, such was his determination to always lead by example.
The Manchester United legend missed the 2002 World Cup with a broken foot and only played twice at the tournament in Germany four years later due to struggles with a calf issue, but he shone at Euro 2004, even bagging an assist in a 3-0 group-stage win over Switzerland.
Neville was best known for his defensive prowess, but was never afraid to bomb forward when the opportunity presented itself, and often had the end product to match his work-rate. England’s Mr. Dependable was also a vocal figure in the dressing room who took it upon himself to serve as a mentor for the younger players at a time when the hype surrounding the team was at its highest.
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Getty13Bukayo Saka (42 caps, 12 goals)
Saka won his first England cap in October 2020, after bursting onto the scene as a teenager at Arsenal, and never looked back. Displaying a maturity well beyond his years, Saka has nailed down a role on the right of the Three Lions attack, adding a new dimension with his direct and explosive style of play.
After shining in a limited role at Euro 2020, Saka was England’s most dangerous player at the World Cup two years later as he scored three goals in four games. He was especially impressive in the narrow quarter-final loss to France, turning Theo Hernandez inside out while setting up several chances that deserved better finishes.
The last Euros was a tougher experience for Saka, but that was mostly down to Southgate’s flawed tactics. At just 23, the Arsenal winger is on the verge of world-class status, and might be the man to finally get them over the line on the biggest stage in the coming years.
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Getty12Joe Cole (56 caps, 10 goals)
Pele famously claimed that West Ham academy graduate Cole was blessed “with the skills of a Brazilian” during his peak years at Chelsea, which was an accurate analysis. Cole was a two-footed maestro who could play anywhere across the frontline and relished pitting himself against the best defenders, often leaving them embarrassed with his arsenal of tricks.
Cole delivered a plethora of magical moments for England fans, particularly at the 2006 World Cup, where he started every game through to the painful quarter-final loss against Portugal. He scored what was perhaps the greatest goal ever scored by a Three Lions player at a major tournament, too, in a 2-2 group-stage draw against Sweden. The diminutive attacker controlled a bouncing ball on his chest from 35 yards before unleashing an unstoppable volley that flew into the top right corner of the net off the post, capping a sensational all-round performance.
Recurring injuries ultimately prevented Cole from reaching his full potential, but he was a joy to watch in full flow and gave England an X-factor in the biggest matches.
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Getty11John Terry (78 caps, six goals)
Terry wasn’t a ball-playing centre-back and lacked pace, but his ability to read the game was unmatched, he never shirked from a challenge, and always posed a threat from set-pieces. The former Chelsea man was also a natural leader who excelled in the air and was almost impossible to knock off the ball, often putting his body on the line to win his duels.
Terry was a central figure for England at four major tournaments, including the 2006 World Cup, where he became the only member of the squad to make FIFA’s All-Star XI. Controversy off the pitch led to Terry being stripped of the captain’s armband twice in the latter stages of his career and he retired from international duty at the early age of 31, leaving a gaping hole in the squad that Hodgson was unable to fill after replacing Capello.
Terry was a superb defender who gave blood, sweat and tears for the England cause, and he can look back on his international career with pride despite the sour ending.
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Getty Images10Raheem Sterling (82 caps, 20 goals)
Sterling has a strong case to be named England’s best player of the last 10 years. He was the one bright spark for the Three Lions during their dismal 2014 World Cup campaign, and went on to become Southgate’s most trusted lieutenant.
The former Liverpool and Man City winger was particularly brilliant at Euro 2020, scoring three goals in seven appearances to spearhead England’s title charge. Sterling has been omitted from the squad since the 2022 World Cup, due to a combination of patchy form at club level with Chelsea and Saka’s continued rise, but he deserved better treatment after giving so much to his country.
England had more of an edge with Sterling up top, as he pressed relentlessly and got them up the pitch quickly, whether by playing clever one-twos or taking on multiple players by himself. Sterling always had a real eye for goal too, and should be considered for a recall if he shines on loan at Arsenal this season.
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Getty9Frank Lampard (106 caps, 29 goals)
Lampard often comes in third in the eternal debate over who was the better midfielder between him, Gerrard and Paul Scholes. The Chelsea icon didn’t possess the same God-given ability as the other two, that’s undeniable, but he compensated for that by making sure every facet of his game was at the highest possible level.
Lampard secured a spot in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament at Euro 2004 after scoring three goals in four games, including a dramatic extra-time equaliser that forced penalties against Portugal in the last eight. He was also voted England’s Player of the Year for 2004 and 2005, and finished as the team’s top scorer in 2006 World Cup qualifying as he embraced more responsibility after Scholes’ international retirement.
Age never seemed to catch up with Lampard either. He scored 15 goals for England after turning 30, more than any other player in the history of the national team (and would have had 16 to his name had his famous strike against Germany in the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup not been wrongly disallowed).
Lampard remains the highest-scoring England midfielder of all-time to this day, but he was also a superb playmaker, and England were fortunate to call upon such a well-rounded player for so long.
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Getty8Paul Scholes (66 caps, 14 goals)
“Scholes was England’s best football player. He had everything,” Eriksson wrote in his autobiography published in 2013. In terms of pure footballing beauty, the Swede wasn’t wrong. Scholes could put the ball on a six-pence from anywhere on the pitch, and seldom misplaced a pass, short or long.
The Manchester United treble-winner also seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, meaning he was always acutely aware of everything around him. Scholes played the game at his own pace even in the most high-pressure situations, and was equally majestic with both feet.
He had a penchant for scoring spectacular goals, but also mastered the art of arriving late into the box to finish, while also boasting a warrior’s mentality. Unfortunately, he was so often played out of position on the wing for England, as Eriksson, in particular, struggled to fit all his star players into the same system.
That was no doubt one of the main reasons that Scholes decided to walk away from England duty at just 29 years of age, leaving supporters agonising over what might have been. Still, United’s ginger wizard made his mark for the Three Lions, who haven’t had anyone possessing the same unique skillset since.
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Getty7Rio Ferdinand (81 caps, three goals)
Ferdinand partnered Campbell and Terry during his time in the England set-up, and proved to be the perfect foil for both men as a technically flawless centre-back with ice in his veins. The former Leeds and Manchester United ace never played at a European Championship, but was a vital presence for the Three Lions at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, recording seven clean sheets in 10 appearances.
Pressure never seemed to get to Ferdinand, who excelled at driving the ball out of defence and sprayed the ball around with the confidence of a seasoned midfielder. He exuded a natural elegance and also possessed an impressive turn of pace that allowed him to operate as a sweeper in a three-man backline when required.
Capello briefly made Ferdinand captain ahead of the 2010 World Cup, but he missed that tournament through injury and was never quite able to recover his best form. Still, in his prime Ferdinand was arguably the most complete defender in the game and, for a time, England seemed impenetrable because of his genius.
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Getty6Michael Owen (89 caps, 40 goals)
Owen came through as England’s next big hope towards the end of the ’90s, before solidifying his status as the world’s most deadly striker in the early 2000s. Most Three Lions fans will point to Owen’s stunning hat-trick in a 5-1 World Cup qualifying demolition of Germany as his finest international moment, which helped him scoop the 2001 Ballon d’Or.
There was no stopping Owen at that stage of his career. He was lightning-quick, nimble and clever with his movement, always putting himself in the right place to deliver a telling blow to the opposition. England have never had a better finisher, either. “You know that if he is on the pitch, there is always the chance to win until the last second of the game,” Eriksson said of the former Liverpool marksman.
Unfortunately, disaster struck for Owen at the 2006 World Cup. He was sent home after tearing his ACL in England’s final group game against Sweden, and by his own admission, was never the same player again. Owen soldiered on admirably, though, and broke Gary Lineker’s record for competitive international goals, before signing off in style with a brace in a European Championship qualifier against Russia.
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Getty5Ashley Cole (107 caps)
Cole was probably the only member of the ‘Golden Generation’ who reached his full potential. There was certainly no one more consistent in the England squad between 2002 and 2012, in which time he appeared in 22 games across World Cup and Euros competition.
Cristiano Ronaldo named Cole as the toughest opponent he’s ever faced in an interview with Coach Mag in 2016, noting “he does not give you a second to breathe”. The former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back certainly had Ronaldo in his pocket in both of England’s major tournament battles with Portugal under Eriksson, prompting a host of frustrated outbursts from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cole had that effect on most attackers due to his relentless energy and powers of anticipation. But he was also a great asset at the other end of the pitch, bombing forward to give England another outlet whenever every time they won the back. He may have failed to score at international level, but Cole’s speed and crossing skills made him a constant threat.
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Getty4Steven Gerrard (114 caps, 21 goals)
Eriksson’s refusal to budge from his rigid 4-4-2 system proved to be England’s undoing in the early to mid-2000s. It was also the main reason that Gerrard and Lampard never seemed to gel, with one of them always having to temper their natural attacking instincts to make sure that the Three Lions were never overrun in the middle of the park.
It’s something of a miracle, then, that Gerrard was still able to shine as often as he did. He excelled in attack and defence, running himself into the ground for the collective cause while displaying incredible mental toughness. Most of the time, Gerrard flat-out refused to be a victim of Eriksson’s pragmatic tactical blueprint.
Owen took all the plaudits when England thrashed Germany in 2001, but Gerrard scored the goal of the game, rifling a volley into the bottom corner from 25 yards to open his international account. A significant chunk of his next 20 goals for England highlighted his immaculate technique, too.
There was nothing Gerrard couldn’t do on a football pitch and his passion always shone through, even when all those around him had allowed their heads to drop.
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Getty3Harry Kane (100 caps, 68 goals)
No one has ever scored more goals for England than Kane. While it is true that the Bayern Munich star has ‘stat-padded’ with hat-tricks against minnows like Albania and San Marino, 15 of his efforts have come at major tournaments.
Kane is one of only three players in history to have won Golden Boots at the World Cup and Euros – the latter of which he scooped a share of in the summer despite clearly being unfit. He’s been England’s main source of goals for almost a decade, with six years spent as captain, and is still going strong at 31. It takes a special player to shoulder that weight of responsibility over such a lengthy period.
The former Tottenham hero is not just an expert predator, either. Kane’s passing is exceptional, and he is the ultimate link-man when firing on all cylinders. There are moments he won’t look back on fondly; like when he neglected to square the ball for Sterling in the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia or his missed penalty against France in Qatar two years ago, but Kane’s status as an England legend has long been secure. And such is his commitment to keeping his body in optimum shape, Kane may lead the Three Lions into at least two more tournaments before he’s finished.
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Getty2David Beckham (115 caps, 17 goals)
When you think of Beckham in an England jersey, the word ‘iconic’ instantly comes to mind. He always looked the part, whether sporting a mohawk, dreadlocks, a man bun or even going completely bald, and had the game to back up his flamboyant style. Beckham was named England captain in 2000, and you could feel how much it meant to him every time he took to the pitch.
The Three Lions only made it to the 2002 World Cup because Beckham stepped up to score an outrageous long-range free-kick to equalise in the dying seconds of their final qualifier against Greece, and England may not have got out of the group stage in South Korea/Japan had Beckham not scored from the penalty spot to see off Argentina, exorcising the demons of his red-card showing against La Albiceleste four years earlier. Beckham also fired home a sublime free-kick against Ecuador to send England through to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
He almost always came up clutch when his country needed a saviour, and his right foot was like a magic wand. England had more well-rounded players, but none who could match Beckham’s dedication, which was underlined by the fact he refused to officially retire from international duty in the latter stages of his career.
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Getty Images1Wayne Rooney (120 caps, 53 goals)
Putting Rooney at the top of this list wasn’t a difficult decision. He is the youngest player to ever score for England, and holds the most caps of any outfield player, having spent a grand total of 15 years in the national team set-up.
At just 18 years old, Rooney stunned audiences across the globe with his performances at Euro 2004. He was fearless, aggressive, quick and supremely skilful, netting four goals in three games to carry England into the last eight, including a remarkable double against Croatia. Unfortunately, Rooney suffered a foot injury that forced him off early in the quarter-final against Portugal. Had he stayed on, the Three Lions probably would have won the game, and perhaps the tournament.
Rooney struggled to reach the same heights for England after that, and briefly became a villain for getting sent off (with the help of Ronaldo) in another painful defeat to Portugal at the 2006 World Cup. England then went into a steep decline, and Rooney was often unfairly made a scapegoat, but he never allowed the criticism to get the better of him.
England’s qualification for the 2012 Euros and the 2014 World Cup was almost solely down to Rooney. He elevated a very mediocre team, and even added the captaincy weight to his back towards the end of Hodgson’s ill-fated tenure. Rooney was unplayable at his peak, and unbreakable in his twilight years. Bad luck skewed the public’s perception of Rooney’s England career, which in reality, was nothing short of outstanding.
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