England’s 25 Greatest Players of All Time Ranked by Fans

England have produced many truly wonderful players. Despite failing to win more than one major international trophy, the Three Lions have seen some of the greatest footballers to have kicked a ball don the famous white shirt down the years.

But who is the greatest England player of all time? It’s a question that is near enough impossible to answer. A number of England’s 1966 World Cup winners simply have to be included in the argument, while members of the country’s fabled ‘Golden Generation’ also have to feature.

Well, fans have given their opinion on the matter by ranking the best players to have ever hailed from England. The standings over on Ranker are certainly controversial – to say the least – and are sure to spark plenty of debate. We take a closer look at the top 25 below.

25

Sol Campbell

England Caps: 73

After the Tottenham to Arsenal fiasco of 2001, Sol Campbell developed into a true great under Arsene Wenger. Regarded as one of the best English centre-backs of his generation, Campbell was a strong, athletic and imposing defender, with a good positional sense, and was also a strong tackler. Due to his height and physical power, he excelled in the air, both offensively and defensively, and this shone through for his country.

During his England career, he proudly earned 73 caps and, in 2006, he became the only player to have represented the Three Lions in six consecutive major tournaments, as he played through all the European Championships between 1996 and 2004, as well as World Cups ’98 through to ’06.

24

Ian Wright

England Caps: 33

Ian Wright is a beloved figure in English football now as a pundit. The upbeat personality of the ex-Gunners forward has endeared ‘Wrighty’ to supporters across the country. Not only is he an entertaining figure, but the 60-year-old was once one of the most deadly strikers in the Premier League.

His spells with Crystal Palace and Arsenal in particular showed the clinical nature of the poacher, although this didn’t necessarily translate to international football. Often overlooked during his time with the national side, Wright would only pull on the famous white shirt 33 times, scoring nine times in that period.

23

Teddy Sheringham

England Caps: 51

One half of the famous SAS duo, Teddy Sheringham is more well known for his exploits in club football, including his last-gasp equaliser in the 1999 Champions League final. In the prime years of his career, though, the former Nottingham Forest man was also a favourite for his country, representing the Three Lions on 51 occasions.

Although his goal-scoring record was not as impressive as others on the list, his combined 19 goal contributions showed that he was a valuable asset in a supporting role. It was Sheringham’s wonderfully nonchalant layoff to Alan Shearer that produced the final flourish in a 4-1 thrashing of the Netherlands at Euro 1996 – a moment lost in the haze of other great moments in that iconic tournament.

22

Bryan Robson

England Caps: 90

Famously nicknamed ‘Captain Marvel’ for his valorous performances, Bryan Robson wore the armband for both Manchester United and England, captaining his country on 65 occasions.

Robson represented England on 90 occasions between 1980 and 1991, making him, at the time, the fifth-most-capped Three Lions player. His goalscoring tally of 26 placed him eighth on the list at the time, with only Bobby Moore, Billy Wright, and Harry Kane captaining the nation’s men’s team on more occasions.

21

Peter Shilton

England Caps: 125

England’s most capped footballer appears at just number 22, which is perhaps a testament to how underrated Peter Shilton actually was. While his most famous moment in a Three Lions jersey was unfortunately conceding the infamous Diego Maradona ‘Hand of God’ goal, Shilton was the deserved number one for two decades.

Having made his debut in 1970, as the man to replace the legendary Gordon Banks, Shilton starred in three World Cups and also made an appearance in one European Championship. With only one other player currently reaching the tally of 120 caps or more, Shilton will continue to remain in English football folklore.

20

Jude Bellingham

England Caps: 61

REUTERS/David Klein

Incredibly, a 23-year-old is in the top 20 players on this list. Think about the achievements of some of the names that have already been mentioned. Jude Bellingham is a bona fide Galactico and many expect the Real Madrid star to go on to lift at least one Ballon d’Or – probably in the next couple of years.

His move to Spain has elevated the attack-minded midfielder to new levels, and England’s hopes will now rest on his shoulders at every foreseeable major tournament. He delivered some big moments at Euro 2024 – most notably, his last-gasp bicycle kick against Slovakia – and then, in 2026, became the first Englishman to score seven goals at a single World Cup.

Roy Keane doesn’t dish out praise with ease, so it means a lot that he has insisted: “I think Bellingham can go on to become one of the greatest of all time.”

19

Gordon Banks

England Caps: 73

A legendary goalkeeper who produced arguably the greatest save in World Cup history – stopping a shot from Brazilian icon Pele in the 1970 World Cup – Gordon Banks was in goal when England were crowned world champions in 1966. Many fans would still select Banks in between the sticks when putting together England’s greatest-ever XI.

Shilton might have more England caps to his name but Banks – who played for the likes of Leicester City and Stoke City at club level – is probably the best ‘keeper ever produced in Britain. The shot-stopper continued playing until he was 40 with his career spanning almost two decades. He tragically passed away in February 2019 at the age of 81, but the call of ‘what a save Gordon Banks’ will live on forever after he produced one of the greatest stops against none other than Pele.

18

Jimmy Greaves

England Caps: 57

Jimmy Greaves scored goals for fun. In 57 England appearances, the 1966 World Cup winner scored 44 times, while he notched 220 in 321 games for Tottenham – truly astonishing records. For decades, the forward was the north London club’s all-time top scorer, until his long-standing record was eventually surpassed by Harry Kane.

Greaves, who later became a hugely popular co-host on Saint and Greavsie, sadly passed away in September 2021 at the age of 81. Spurs and England fans will cherish the memories the prolific goalscorer left them with for eternity and his legacy will continue to live on.

17

Sir Stanley Matthews

England Caps: 54

‘The Wizard of the Dribble’ is a fitting nickname for a true England great. Sir Stanley Matthews was the winner of the inaugural Ballon d’Or award in 1956 while playing for Blackpool. To this day, Matthews is still the oldest-ever Ballon d’Or winner, having scooped the honour at the staggering age of 41.

To have still been seen as worthy of winning the award at such an age just goes to show the longevity of the man within the world of football, with his career lasting an incredible 33 years. A formidable individual performance in the 1953 FA Cup final means the game is permanently remembered as the ‘Matthews Final’.

16

Paul Gascoigne

England Caps: 57

Not only is Paul Gascoigne one of the most talented footballers that the country has ever produced, but he’s also one of the most loved. Everyone who played with or managed ‘Gazza’ has a hilarious story about the gifted former midfielder. An example of the football icon’s funniest moments includes a celebration imitating an incident from a night out known as the ‘dentist chair’.

Gazza had his demons, as we all know, but that takes nothing away from the joy he gave to millions of football fans every time he had a ball at his feet. Regardless of the troubles he’s faced after hanging up his boots, the former midfield ace will forever be remembered as one of the most technically gifted players England has ever produced.