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

It ended in heartbreak for England at the 2024 Euros, 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 means that change is afoot. New manager Thomas Tuchel has an incredible talented pool to pick from, and he will be spoilt for choice. GIVEMESPORT brings you the 20 best England players.

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.

1 Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

A consistent goalscorer for both club and country, there are not many that can rival Harry Kane at the top of the rankings with 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 outings for Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 season. Blessed with dynamism, the former Tottenham Hotspur ace can do it all: score goals, link up with wide men, drop deeper and play acute ball through the lines.

While winning the Bundesliga title may have escaped his grasp, the England centurion has done everything in his power to achieve greatness in the German top flight. Regarded as one of the greatest British players to ever play overseas, the talismanic centre-forward is pivotal to the success of both Bayern Munich and the England National Team.

2 Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

When Real Madrid shelled out a hefty fee for the Englishman’s services, many clubs were envious. With the world at his feet, Jude Bellingham has shattered through his ceiling with ease, becoming one of the best footballers in the world in 2024.

Originally coming through the Birmingham City youth ranks, the club were made a mockery of when they retired the number 22 upon his departure, but with him firing on all cylinders, the club had every right to. He notched 23 goals and 12 assists in the 2023/24 season, which was a return an elite-level striker would be pleased with – but Bellingham was doing it all from midfield without his defensive performances waning.

3 Cole Palmer

Chelsea

Without Cole Palmer, Chelsea would have been very much worse off in 2023/24. The youngster took a punt with a career-defining move away from Manchester City – and it’s safe to say it’s paid off. From being on the fringes of Guardiola’s side, he is now the go-to guy in west London.

Widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the Premier League, the 22-year-old got his senior England career underway during a 2-0 win over Malta in November 2023. On the back of his 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions in the most recent campaign, he put together a compelling case to be a member of the England team at the 2024 Euros, where he ended up scoring in the final against Spain, although that sadly ended in defeat for the England team. Now continuing to find the back of the net with ease, it looks like a given that he will get more game time for the Three Lions with the arrival of Thomas Tuchel.

4 Bukayo Saka

Arsenal

Despite not being considered ‘world-class’ by Rio Ferdinand, Bukayo Saka, still second in this year’s Premier League assists table despite a long-term injury, is an Arsenal fan favourite, with him playing a key role in the Gunners’ title-chargers in the past two seasons. And that status has transcended into the England camp.

Equally hard-working as he is talented, Saka is already a fully-fledged England international with 43 caps under his belt – and with years aplenty left on the clock, he could go on to become one of the nation’s highest-ever appearance holders. With 20 goals and 14 assists to boot in 2023/24, and an even stronger start to 24/25, Saka has every reason to be ranked as England’s fourth-best player at the moment, even if he is forced to watch his teammates from the sidelines for now.

5 Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool

While he had to endure a spell on the sidelines through injury in 2023/24, Trent Alexander-Arnold has had an incredible campaign for Liverpool as the Reds look to mount a title challenge this time around. The full-back has proven he can defend just as well as he can attack this term, and that’ll prove invaluable to the Three Lions.

Arguably the best right-back in the league, Alexander-Arnold’s versatility to play in several positions could also be a very attractive prospect to the incoming England manager, who will want to make better use of one of the most talented England players than their predecessor did – especially after he won three Man of the Match awards under Lee Carsley before the news of Tuchel’s arrival came about.

6 Declan Rice

Arsenal

A cut above the rest, Declan Rice was one of the first names on the teamsheet for Gareth Southgate at the 2024 Euros, and he performed very well. A scorer of some important goals for Arsenal in the 2023-24 season, the central midfielder has gone from strength to strength since his move, despite some eyebrows being raised over the hefty fee.

Rice’s role for England is similar to his role when playing for the Gunners – and, in short, that is to be the glue. An astute tackler with an incredible engine, the former West Ham United captain has all the tools to remain a crucial player for England in the foreseeable future.

7 Phil Foden

Manchester City

Phil Foden winning the Premier League Player of the Season award encapsulates just how good he was for Pep Guardiola in 2023/24. His 23/24 season was by far the best of Foden’s career, with the young attacker scoring 27 goals and providing another 12 for his teammates.

Already a six-time Premier League champion, Foden is bordering on club legend status – at the tender age of 24, which is an incredible feat. Unfortunately, he has suffered from some injury problems at the start of the 24/25 campaign, which has limited his impact for both club and country, and his poor form for the Three Lions has seen him drop down the rankings, although that form is starting to make a bit of a comeback in recent weeks.

8 Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Looking to become Kane’s understudy at international level, Ollie Watkins has just 18 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 last season, and scored one of the most important goals in recent England history when he scored a late winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final. This season, that goalscoring touch has waned ever-so slightly, but he remains the closest rival to Kane for the striker role.

9 Anthony Gordon

Newcastle United

Throughout Euro 2024, much of the English fanbase was left frustrated by Anthony Gordon’s lack of game time. The 23-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. With Newcastle sitting just two points off the top four, the former Everton star could be the difference between securing European qualification or falling short.

10 John Stones

Manchester City

A key part of the most domineering 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 for a while, 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.

11 Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

Marc Guehi had a breakout season in the 2023/24 campaign for Crystal Palace. He was a key part of a Crystal Palace team that recorded one of their best finishes in the Premier League, often playing in an interesting hybrid defender/midfielder role under Oliver Glasner.

His breakout season saw him force his way into a starting place in the England squad at the 2024 European Championships, where he formed a strong partnership with the aforementioned Stones. He even received his own bespoke chant from fans, which became incredibly popular amongst the England faithful. Despite being embroiled in a transfer saga last summer, Guehi remained at Crystal Palace, and he is well on his way to becoming one of their best players in the Premier League era, as he shows leadership and a calming presence in abundance.

12 Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

Morgan Rogers is one of the latest players to earn a well-deserved England call-up, and his rise at Aston Villa has been nothing short of sensational. The young attacking midfielder and second striker consistently delivers when called upon, recently showcasing his talent by scoring and assisting in Villa’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City.

There’s no doubt that his stocks have gone up this season, and while the competition for a starting spot in the 10 position was fierce before the start of the campaign, if the 22-year-old can continue in fine fettle, he could well become Cole Palmer’s primary understudy before you know it.

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 under Sean Dyche, with the shot-stopper possessing excellent reflexes and distribution, while he is never afraid to boss his defenders about. Now 30 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.

14 Dominic Solanke

Tottenham Hotspur

Dominic Solanke has become one of the most prolific strikers in England in recent seasons. He has long been tipped for success since being earmarked by Jose Mourinho for international success back in 2014 when the two were at Chelsea, and the Cobham academy graduate is now fulfilling his potential.

His stellar performances for Bournemouth led to a big-money move to Tottenham, and he could be the long-term replacement for the man who sits at the very top of this list. His form for Spurs also saw him selected by Carsley for the October international squad, with him making his first appearance in seven years against Greece. Although goals haven’t been flying in at their usual rate, Solanke has moulded himself into a selfless, hard-working frontman under Ange Postecoglou, which has brought out the best in Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski.

15 Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest

Understated but integral to Nottingham Forest’s resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo, Morgan Gibbs-White has been the architect of many great attacking performances this term on the banks of the River Tyne. With nine goal contributions in just 21 appearances so far, it looks increasingly likely that his efforts in the number 10 shirt will earn his side a place at Europe’s grand table.

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 is in Tuchel’s plans for the future. On ability alone, he deserves to be considered.