Top 10 greatest English footballers of all time: Sir Bobby Charlton claims top spot, only two Man United legends on the list

England is widely regarded as the birthplace of modern football. Since the first clubs were formed in the country, the sport has grown into the world’s most popular game. Along the way, England has produced numerous talents who have gone on to become legends of world football.

In this article, SoccerwayUK.com lists the top 10 greatest English footballers of all time, as well as the top 10 goalscorers for the England national team, from the early 1900s to 2025.

Top 10 greatest English footballers of all time

Topping the list, without doubt, is Sir Bobby Charlton, widely regarded as the greatest English footballer of all time. He was England’s standout player at the 1966 World Cup, where the Three Lions won their first and only World Cup title. Charlton played every minute of the tournament, including the full 120 minutes of the final against West Germany. He scored both goals in the semifinal against Portugal to send England into the final. That same year, he won the Ballon d’Or.

At club level, Charlton spent 18 years at Manchester United and became one of the club’s greatest legends. During his career, he won the English First Division three times, the European Cup once in the 1967/68 season, the FA Cup in 1963, and two English Super Cups in the 1965/66 and 1967/68 seasons. Despite not collecting an extensive list of trophies, his influence, consistency and performances secured his status as the greatest English footballer in history.

Second on the list is West Ham United legend Bobby Moore, who captained England to World Cup glory in 1966 at just 25 years old. Pelé, the most successful World Cup player of all time, famously described Moore as “the greatest defender I ever played against.” With 108 caps, Moore ranks among the top five players with the most appearances for England.

The only other Manchester United player on the list is David Beckham. He made 115 appearances for England, represented the country at three World Cups (1998, 2002 and 2006) and two European Championships (2000 and 2004), and captained the national team for six years, from November 2000 until after the 2006 World Cup. Beckham is remembered for his technical ability and iconic moments, including his famous free kick against Greece and his penalty against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

Top 10 greatest English footballers of all time

1. Sir Bobby Charlton

2. Bobby Moore

3. Gordon Banks

4. David Beckham

5. Sir Stanley Matthews

6. Alan Shearer

7. Gary Lineker

8. Jimmy Greaves

9. Paul Gascoigne

10. Sir Geoff Hurst

Most goalscorers in the history of the England national team

England has also produced some of the most prolific goalscorers in international football history. Currently, the all-time leading goalscorer for the England national team is Harry Kane. The current captain has scored 78 goals in 112 appearances. Kane is also England’s second-highest scorer at the World Cup with eight goals and is tied with Alan Shearer as England’s top scorer at the European Championship with seven goals. At club level, he continues to impress, scoring 34 goals in 30 appearances for Bayern Munich this season while competing for the Golden Boot alongside Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.

Second on the list is Wayne Rooney, who scored 53 goals in 120 appearances for England. The Manchester United legend held the national team scoring record from 2015 until Kane surpassed it eight years later. Rooney represented England in six major international tournaments and became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history at Euro 2004.

Third on the list is Sir Bobby Charlton, with 49 goals in 106 appearances, followed by Gary Lineker in fourth place with 48 goals, who boasts one of the best goals-per-game ratios in England’s history. Other notable names include Michael Owen, the last English player to win the Ballon d’Or, and Alan Shearer, who still holds the record for most Premier League goals, with 260 goals in 441 matches.

Top 10 goalscorers in England history

1. Harry Kane (1993) - 112 appearances, 78 goals.

2. Wayne Rooney (1985) - 120 appearances, 53 goals.

3. Sir Bobby Charlton (1937-2023) - 106 appearances, 49 goals.

4. Gary Lineker (1960) - 80 appearances, 48 goals.

5. Jimmy Greaves (1940-2021) - 57 appearances, 44 goals.

6. Michael Owen (1979) - 89 appearances, 40 goals.

7. Vivian Woodward (1879-1954) – 29 appearances, 38 goals.

8. Nat Lofthouse (1925-2011) – 33 appearances, 30 goals.

9. Alan Shearer (1970) - 63 appearances, 30 goals.

10. Sir Tom Finney (1922-2014) - 77 appearances, 30 goals.

Soccerway UK has named the Top 10 greatest English footballers of all time, along with the top 10 goalscorers in England’s history. For more information and updates on English football, visit here.