20 Best English Footballers in the World Right Now (Ranked)

One of the traditional juggernauts on the international scene, any taste of glory for England has evaded their grasp since that triumph in 1966, spearheaded by the likes of Sir Bobby Moore and Sir Geoff Hurst.

It ended in heartbreak for England at Euro 2024, with Gareth Southgate failing to make sure the Three Lions got over the line in the final of the competition against Spain. The sting of the 2021 finals defeat was still fresh in the memory of England fans and players, which made the loss all the worse.

Gareth Southgate resigned from his role as England manager after the loss, which meant that change is afoot. New manager Thomas Tuchel has an incredibly talented pool to pick from, and he will be spoiled for choice. GIVEMESPORT brings you the 20 best England players with the 2026 World Cup now less than 10 months away.

Ranking factors

• Performances for England.
• Current form for the respective club.
• Trophies won at club level.
• How important they have been to their club’s success.

20

John Stones

Manchester City

A key part of the most dominant team in club football, Manchester City, look somewhat disjointed when John Stones does not play. Versatile enough to ply his trade across the back four or in the engine room, the former Everton ace has become one of Pep Guardiola’s utility men.

Guaranteed to be England’s first-choice pick in the centre of defence not that long ago, Stones is perfect for pulling the strings, and keeping the ball ticking, and he is also strong in duels – both aerially and on-ground. In possession, too, there are not many defenders in world football that can match his calmness, while his passing range is considered to be among the very best, even if injuries have stunted his contributions as of late and therefore impacted his ranking here.

19

Anthony Gordon

Newcastle United

Throughout Euro 2024, much of the English fanbase was left frustrated by Anthony Gordon’s lack of game time. The 24-year-old played just a single minute all tournament, but his impressive form in the 2024/25 season suggests he could become a key figure in Tuchel’s starting lineup.

While alternative options to his position bring a playmaking and passing-oriented style on the left flank, Gordon offers a more direct attacking threat, constantly looking to drive forward and make things happen. At Newcastle, he proved the difference again in their hopes of Champions League qualification as it was his synergy with Alexander Isak that led the Magpies to a fifth-placed finish. With Tuchel believing a bit of pace is needed around frontman Harry Kane, Gordon’s eyes will have widened at that fact.

18

Myles Lewis-Skelly

Arsenal

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Last season, Myles Lewis-Skelly emerged as an incredibly promising talent for Arsenal and is one of the club’s biggest success stories in recent Hale End Academy annals. He’s stepped into the team and taken to senior football like a duck to water. He’s wise and composed well beyond his years and hasn’t shown any signs of faltering beneath the brightest of lights.

He’s the exact sort of player that the England national team needs, and it’s hard to imagine he won’t be picking up plenty of caps over the next few years as Tuchel navigates managing the Three Lions in some major international tournaments. The only reason he isn’t any higher in this article, for now, is the fact Riccardo Calafiori remains ahead of him in his club’s pecking order.

17

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Looking to become Kane’s understudy at international level, Ollie Watkins has just 20 England caps to his name thus far – but that is well-poised to rise in years to come with opportunities for a striker as talismanic as the Aston Villa ace is bound to arise.

The Englishman is regarded as one of the best strikers in world football with him rubbing shoulders with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. He scored 27 goals and added 13 assists in all competitions in the 2023/24 season, and scored one of the most important goals in recent England history when he scored a late winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final. This season so far, that goalscoring touch has waned, but he remains the closest rival to Kane for the striker role.

16

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

Wharton has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years. The classy midfielder broke through at Blackburn Rovers as a teenager and his impressive performances in the Championship convinced Crystal Palace to shell out £22 million for his services. He’s proven to be worth every penny.

Still just 21 years old, Wharton is now one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and was integral to his side’s FA Cup success in 2025. He was included in England’s Euro 2024 squad and he’s set to play a big part at the 2026 World Cup and beyond, too.

15

Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

Understated but integral to Nottingham Forest’s resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo, Morgan Gibbs-White was the architect of many great attacking performances last term on the banks of the River Tyne. With 17 goal contributions in 38 appearances, it looked likely that his efforts in the number 10 shirt would earn his side a place at Europe’s grand table, before then having to settle for a place in the Europa League and then being linked with a move to Tottenham until the Tricky Trees’ hierarchy consulted their lawyers over an illegal approach.

The only downside seems to be his position. With Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers all operating in the same space as “MGW”, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to force his way into Tuchel’s plans for the future. On ability alone, he deserves to be considered.

14

Jarrod Bowen

West Ham United

For several years now, Jarrod Bowen has been considered one of the best players outside of the top six in the Premier League, and last season was not really any different. The forward had another fine campaign, despite his side’s ongoing issues in the top flight. His energy on the flank can be a real game-changer.

He’s drawn interest from a number of top sides, but remains with the Hammers at the time of writing. England have some of the most exciting forwards in football right now, but Bowen has still bagged 20 caps for the national team, and that’s a number that will almost certainly rise in the future.

13

Jordan Pickford

Everton

For years, Jordan Pickford was viewed as someone integral for the Three Lions, but someone unreliable when it came to Everton. However, the goalkeeper dispelled those accusations during the 2023/24 term, keeping 13 Premier League clean sheets, a total bettered only by Arsenal’s David Raya.

His qualities have shone through in the most recent season under Sean Dyche and now David Moyes, with the shot-stopper possessing excellent reflexes and distribution, while he is never afraid to boss his defenders about. Now 31 years old, the veteran goalkeeper is a guaranteed starter for England, and he could almost certainly be considered one of the greatest to stand between the sticks for the Three Lions.

12

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid

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While he had to endure a spell on the sidelines through injury in 2023/24, Trent Alexander-Arnold had an incredible campaign for Liverpool as the Reds claimed their record-equalling 20th English league crown in the season just gone. The full-back proved he can defend just as well as he can attack that term, and that’ll prove invaluable to the Three Lions.

However, his dream move to Real Madrid has so far not been fruitful. Alexander-Arnold has struggled and lost his position to Dani Carvajal upon his return from injury, before then becoming third fiddle to Federico Valverde. And the same question marks that have surrounded him defensively could continue to impact his international future, especially as it seems Tuchel has a soft spot for another player in the same position, having yet to give Trent a call in the 2025/26 campaign.

11

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

One of the more underrated midfielders in the Premier League, Elliot Anderson’s brilliant start to the season at Nottingham Forest was rewarded with a first England call-up and subsequent cap in the 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra. The 23-year-old made the most of his opportunity, too, with a player of the match display that had Tuchel saying that it was as if he had already played 50 times for his country.

Another three really solid displays have since followed, and Anderson has certainly made a good case for starting alongside the more reputable names of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham across the pond at the World Cup next summer. In a team brimming with big talent, it’s the system players that ensure any golden generation doesn’t get too carried away, and his team-first mentality could work wonders in the Three Lions’ pursuit of silverware.