33·Legends
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England

The thirty-three greatest. Build your eleven, then settle the duels.
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The 330 on the pitch

The duels

Pick the greater legend. Every vote moves the people's ranking of England.

The 33 of England

Ranked by the almanac. Vote in the duels to build the people's version.

1 95 Bobby Charlton 106 caps · 49 goals · English Schools' Football Association, Preston North End · Ballon d'Or 1966A true footballing icon, the Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion’s thunderous long-range strikes and humble leadership defined an era for Manchester United and England. CM1956–73
2 94 Bobby Moore 108 caps · West Ham United, Fulham · Hall of FameEngland's World Cup-winning captain from 1966, he epitomised defensive elegance and leadership, famously shutting down Pele in 1970. CB1966–70
3 94 Gordon Banks 73 caps · Leicester City, Stoke City · 2× Hall of Fame (2002–2002)The legendary World Cup winner made one of the most iconic saves in history against Pelé in 1970, forever cementing his place as one of football's greatest goalkeepers. GK1970s
4 92 Harry Kane 121 caps · 85 goals · Tottenham Hotspur, Millwall · European Golden ShoeEngland's record goalscorer, his prolific finishing and exceptional all-round game make him one of the most complete strikers of the modern era. ST2011–26
5 92 Stanley Matthews 54 caps · 11 goals · Stoke City, The Football League XI · Ballon d'OrThe original 'Wizard of the Dribble,' this legendary winger's mesmerizing footwork earned him the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 1956. LM1950s
6 92 Steven Gerrard 114 caps · 21 goals · Liverpool, LA Galaxy · 2× national Player of the Year (2006–2009)The ultimate Anfield talisman, his inspirational leadership, box-to-box dominance, and iconic goals powered Liverpool to their dramatic 2005 Champions League triumph. CM2000s
7 WR 92 Wayne Rooney 120 caps · 53 goals · Everton, Manchester United · 2× national Player of the Year (2010–2010)England and Manchester United's all-time leading scorer, his ferocious shot and all-around attacking prowess made him a truly complete forward. SS2002–18
8 FL 91 Frank Lampard 106 caps · 29 goals · West Ham United, Chelsea · national Player of the Year 2005Chelsea's record scorer, this midfield dynamo famously notched over 200 goals for the Blues, dictating games with intelligence and a tireless engine. CM1995–2016
9 91 Geoff Hurst 49 caps · 24 goals · West Ham United, Stoke City · Hall of FameWembley, 30 July 1966: with spectators drifting onto the pitch and Kenneth Wolstenholme telling viewers they thought it was all over, he drove in his third goal of the afternoon against West Germany. That 4-2 win made him the first man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, and he added the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham, scoring 24 goals in 49 England appearances. ST1959–76
10 91 Jimmy Greaves 57 caps · 44 goals · Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur · Hall of FameOne of England's most prolific goalscorers, his incredible instinct in front of goal led him to record-breaking feats for Tottenham and Chelsea. ST1957–71
11 91 Paul Scholes 66 caps · 14 goals · Manchester United · 2× Hall of Fame (2022–2022)The quiet heartbeat of Manchester United's midfield, his sublime passing range and extraordinary vision orchestrated countless attacks under Sir Alex Ferguson. CM
12 TF 91 Tom Finney 76 caps · 30 goals · Preston North End, Lisburn Distillery · Hall of FameA true pioneer on the wing, his pace and two-footed brilliance made him a constant threat for Preston North End and England throughout the 1940s and 50s. RM1946–60
13 AB 90 Alan Ball Still running after 120 minutes at Wembley in 1966, socks round his ankles, he chased down the right flank and pulled back the cross Geoff Hurst thundered against the bar for England's most argued-over goal. The World Cup came at 21, the youngest man in that side and the choice of several teammates as the final's outstanding player, followed by the First Division with Everton in 1970. CM1962–84
14 90 Alan Shearer 63 caps · 30 goals · Southampton, Blackburn Rovers · 3× Hall of Fame (2001–2021)The Premier League's all-time top scorer, his powerful presence and thunderous shot made him a legend for Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. ST1988–2006
15 DB 90 David Beckham 115 caps · 17 goals · Manchester United, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol · 4× national Player of the Year (1997–2011)On the opening day of the 1996/97 season he looked up at Selhurst Park, saw Neil Sullivan two steps off his line and dropped the ball over him from inside his own half. The 1999 Champions League completed United's treble and he won six league titles there, then La Liga in 2007, two MLS Cups in Los Angeles and Ligue 1 in Paris in 2013, with 59 games as England captain. RM1992–2013
16 GL 90 Gary Lineker 80 caps · 48 goals · Everton, FC Barcelona · 2× Hall of Fame (2003–2003)A natural poacher and Golden Boot winner at the 1986 World Cup, his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time was unmatched. ST1980s
17 JB 90 Jude Bellingham 56 caps · 13 goals · Birmingham City, Borussia DortmundTwenty years old and playing his first Clásico in October 2023, he equalised from outside the box and then volleyed a winner deep into stoppage time to beat Barcelona 2-1. A Champions League and La Liga double followed in that same debut season at Real Madrid, and he reached the Euro 2024 final with England before finishing third at the 2026 World Cup. CM2019–26
18 90 Kevin Keegan 63 caps · 21 goals · Scunthorpe United, Liverpool · 2× Ballon d'Or (1978–1979)A relentless forward renowned for his boundless energy, he won two Ballons d'Or in the 1970s, dazzling fans at Liverpool and Hamburg. CAM1968–84
19 90 Martin Peters 67 caps · 20 goals · West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur · Hall of FameGeoff Hurst's shot was blocked and looped up at Wembley in 1966, and he arrived six yards out to volley England 2-1 ahead of West Germany with twelve minutes left, the ghost-runner Alf Ramsey called ten years ahead of his time. The World Cup came that afternoon, then the 1972 UEFA Cup with Tottenham, League Cups in 1971 and 1973, and the 1965 Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham. CM1961–81
20 89 Ashley Cole 107 caps · Arsenal, Chelsea · Hall of Fame 2024Widely considered the finest left-back of his generation, his relentless attacking drive and superb defending earned him Champions League glory with both Arsenal and Chelsea. LB1999–2014
21 BR 89 Bryan Robson 90 caps · West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United · Hall of Fame"Captain Marvel" epitomised the all-action midfielder, a tireless engine combining fierce tackling with a crucial eye for goal for Manchester United and England. CDM1974–94
22 DE 89 Duncan Edwards 18 caps · 5 goals · Manchester United · Hall of FameOn 26 May 1956 in Berlin he opened the scoring against the world champions West Germany with a drive from distance, and the local papers christened him "Boom Boom" for the artillery in his boots. He won two First Division titles with Manchester United, in 1956 and 1957, and had 18 England caps at 21, the age at which he died of his injuries fifteen days after the Munich air crash. CM1953–58
23 89 Jack Charlton 35 caps · Leeds United · Hall of FameWhen the whistle went at Wembley on 30 July 1966, the lanky Leeds stopper they called the Giraffe sank to his knees and was folded into his brother Bobby's arms. He won the World Cup that afternoon, then the First Division title with Leeds in 1969, the FA Cup in 1972, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups and the 1967 Footballer of the Year award, across 773 games for a single club. CB1952–73
24 89 Michael Owen 89 caps · 40 goals · Liverpool, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol · Ballon d'Or 2001The explosive striker whose searing pace and clinical finishing earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2001, captivating audiences for Liverpool and England. SS2000s
25 PS 89 Peter Shilton 125 caps · Leicester City, Nottingham Forest · Hall of Fame 1991An England legend, he racked up a record number of caps, showcasing remarkable consistency and longevity throughout a glittering career spanning four decades. GK1966–97
26 RC 89 Ray Clemence Scunthorpe United, Liverpool · Hall of FameThe towering stopper was a bedrock of Liverpool's dominant European side in the 1970s and early '80s, securing multiple First Division titles and three European Cups. GK1965–88
27 RW 89 Ray Wilson It is his shoulder, alongside Geoff Hurst's, that holds Bobby Moore aloft in the photograph every England fan knows, taken minutes after the 4-2 win over West Germany at Wembley on 30 July 1966. He played all six matches of that World Cup as the oldest man in Alf Ramsey's side at 31, won the FA Cup with Everton a few weeks earlier, and collected 63 England caps after twelve years at Huddersfield. LB1955–69
28 89 Rio Ferdinand 81 caps · West Ham United, Leeds United · 2× Hall of Fame (2023–2023)The Rolls-Royce of defenders, he seamlessly blended pace, power, and poise to become a multiple Premier League and Champions League winner with Manchester United. CB1995–2015
29 TA 89 Tony Adams 66 caps · Arsenal · 2× Hall of Fame (2023–2023)A colossal centre-back and inspirational captain, he famously lifted the league title with Arsenal in three different decades, including the 1990/91 unbeaten season. CB1990s
30 BW 88 Billy Wright 105 caps · Wolverhampton Wanderers · Hall of FameEngland's first centurion, he was a formidable leader and stylish defender who captained his country at three World Cups, including as the first to reach the quarter-finals in 1954. CB1950s
31 GC 88 George Cohen 37 caps · Fulham · Hall of Fame 1999George Best called him the best full-back he ever played against, and the overlapping runs down the right made him essential to Alf Ramsey's wingless England of 1966. He played every minute of that World Cup, all 120 of the final win over West Germany at Wembley, and spent his whole career at Fulham, 459 games between 1957 and 1969, with Ramsey naming him England's greatest right-back. RB1956–69
32 88 Glenn Hoddle 53 caps · 8 goals · Tottenham Hotspur, AS Monaco · Hall of FameAn elegant playmaker, his graceful turns and incisive passing brought sophistication to Tottenham's midfield before enchanting Monaco. CAM1975–95
33 JA 87 Jimmy Armfield 43 caps · Blackpool · Hall of FameThe legendary Blackpool captain was a tenacious full-back, earning 35 caps for England and leading his country at the 1962 World Cup. RB1960s

About this XI

Bobby Charlton tops England's all-time pool, ahead of Bobby Moore and Gordon Banks. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders, 14 midfielders and 7 forwards, spanning the 1950s to the 2000s. One player, Bobby Charlton, reaches the Immortal tier or higher. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.

Left out, and why

A 33 is a set of decisions, and these are the players who lost their place in the last revision of England's list. Every one of them has a case.

Disagree? That is the point. Settle it in the duels above.

Who is the greatest England footballer of all time?
In the 33 Legends editorial ranking, Bobby Charlton leads England with an overall rating of 95. The editorial top five: Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks, Harry Kane, Stanley Matthews. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.
How were these 33 England players chosen?
The pool covers every position across England's football history. Ratings weigh peak level, longevity, honours and historical standing, then the full methodology page explains the tiers. Fan votes in the duels build a second, independent ranking.
Which England players reach the Immortal tier or higher?
Bobby Charlton is rated 95 or higher for England.
Can I build and share my own England all-time XI?
Yes. Pick one of eight formations, drag any of the 33 onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.
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