The all-time United Kingdom football roster

Any member of England's lone World Cup-winning side of 1966 is essentially beloved. That's certainly the case with Banks, who was an integral part of that glory team. Banks started every match during the Three Lions’ run to that magical Cup triumph. And, while a durable and focused performer, Banks was also an inspirational leader on the national squad — respected to the hilt. During his international career for England, Banks made 73 caps from 1963-72. He was also part of the England group that finished third at the 1968 European Championships. Banks is also revered for his memorable save versus the legendary Pele during the 1970 World Cup.

One of Northern Ireland's all-time greats, Jennings's international career began as an 18-year-old in 1964. When all was said and done on that stage, Jennings made 119 appearances for the Northern Ireland national team (second-most in the country's history), including four during the 1982 World Cup, when the squad reached the second group stage. Jennings's 45 clean sheets, compiled from 1964-86, are by far the most of any Northern Ireland keeper. On the club level, Jennings helped both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal win the FA Cup. 

While the aforementioned Gordon Banks holds a special place in the hearts of English football fans, Shilton might be close behind in terms of goalkeeping love for the Three Lions. Shilton appeared in the World Cup for England in 1982, 1986 (ouch, England fans) and 1990. His 17 World Cup finals match appearances are a national record, which is impressive since Shilton did not make his debut at the event until age 32. Meanwhile, his 10 clean sheets are tied for the most in World Cup history. Shilton, whose 125 caps and 66 clean sheets from 1970-90 are an England record, was also part of two Euro squads (’80, ’88).

Wright's international football legacy began in September 1946 and ended in 1959. He's the first footballer from any nation to record 100 international caps — all coming during the 1940s and ‘50s. His 105 international appearances for England rank among the most in team history, and 90 of those came as captain of the Three Lions. Wright was part of three England World Cup teams in 1950, ’54 and ’58. His stretch of 70 consecutive international appearances — from 1951-1959 — is also the longest by an England team member.

Not only is Moore one of the greats in the history of English football, but perhaps on the game's entire world stage. A truly gifted centre back for his time, and a trendsetter for the position, Moore was stout, intelligent and durable. He ranks fifth all-time with 108 national team caps during an international career that spanned 1962-73. In fact, Moore was the youngest player in the history of the national club to be named captain; he was just 23 in 1964. Moore, of course, captained England's 1966 World Cup-champion team — one of three national teams he represented at the event during his career.

The Celtic legend and man known locally as "Cesar" was a giant among U.K. footballers. In fact, he enjoyed vastly more success on the club level than he did as an international performer. When it comes to U.K. defenders, however, McNeill is certainly among the most serviceable and dependable athletes of all time. As a Scottish international from 1961-72, McNeill made 29 appearances and registered three goals. The Hall of Famer posted two of those goals from four matches in 1969. 

Poised, sturdy, and as fluid as they come on the back end, Cole was a stellar left-back who ranks sixth all-time in England national team history with 107 caps (2001-14). Of course, Cole enjoyed well-documented success at the club level, predominantly with Arsenal, which translated into his international body of work. A fearless defender who also possessed an attacking nature, Cole was part of three England World Cup groups (2002, ’06 and ’10). In the annals of English defenders, Cole can stand toe-to-toe with all the greats.

Charles's grandest asset on the pitch was his versatility. He essentially could do it all, whether playing on the club level for Leeds United and Italian giants Juventus — during the late 1940s and into the 1960s — or for the Welsh national side. On the international scene, Charles certainly made the most of his opportunities. His run with Wales began as an 18-year old in 1950. He played a key role in Wales' 1958 squad that was the nation's first to qualify for a World Cup berth. In 38 international caps before that portion of his career ended in 1965, Charles scored 15 times.

While there are plenty of pundits and fans who believe Blanchflower is the greatest player in Tottenham Hotspur history, he was an extremely solid defensive midfielder in international play,as well. While a member of the Northern Ireland national team from 1949-63, Blanchflower made 56 caps on that front. A total of 42 coming while serving as captain, including his time as a member of the 1958 World Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals. Though known for his stout defensive work, Blanchflower did record a pair of goals during his international service. 

Baxter played at various levels of the Scotland national program, but when it came to the senior squad, he remains one of the best in their history. A successful and popular (to a fault in most cases) club player with Rangers and Sunderland, most notably, Baxter earned 34 international caps from 1960-1967, and scoring three goals. However, Baxter has long been praised for his brilliant passing ability and ultra keen in-match knowledge. 

Another Scottish football legend. When it comes to his work on the pitch, Souness is probably best known for captaining Liverpool and serving as player-manager for Rangers. He also played in the North American Soccer League. However, Souness was a member of three Scotland World Cup teams (1978, '82 and '86). His official international career for Scotland lasted from 1974-'86, and featured 54 caps, four goals and a run as captain.

A valuable member of England’s fourth-place side from the 1990 World Cup. "Gazza," also produced one of the most memorable goals in national team history: a key score versus rival Scotland during the group stage of the 1996 European Championships. On his international career, Gascoigne recorded 10 goals — seven of those coming in World Cup play — through 57 matches. Meanwhile, life off the pitch has been harsh for Gascoigne, who battled alcoholism and dealt with mental illness, while trying to handle sports fame. Yet, he will always be one of the greatest to ever suit up for the Three Lions.

It should be known that the renowned Giggs earned some international time playing for England, too, as a youngster. And, of course, we know how high he's praised in the annals of Manchester United football history. However, Giggs is a Welsh star through and through. When he debuted for the Wales national team in October 1991 at age 17, he was the youngest player to do so at the time. He recorded a memorable brace against Azerbaijan during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, and totaled 12 goals over 64 matches for Wales' senior squad from 1991-2007. Also of note, Giggs was part of the Great Britain side for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 

An athlete who has transcended the pitch to become an international celebrity (there's even a movie named in honour of football prowess). Whether representing club or country, Beckham possessed the overall greatness to shine brighter than most. On the international front, Beckham posted 115 caps for England’s national team, which rank third all time. He made his Three Lions' debut in September 1996, at age 21, and spent six years as team captain. Beckham was part of three World Cup teams (1998, ’02, ’06) and registered 17 goals during his time with the national squad, which officially ended in 2009.

Is Bale the greatest player in the history of Wales football? It sure seems that way. An imposing specimen of a human, Bale is the nation's all-time leader, as of early 2024, for international caps (111) and goals (41), spanning a run that began in 2006 and ran until his announced retirement from those competitions in January 2023. He helped the Welsh qualify for the 2022 World Cup, marking the nation's first appearance in the event since 1958. On the club level, Bale has played for some of the most prominent sides in the world — Spurs, Real Madrid and LAFC, and was twice named PFA Players' Player of the Year.

As of early 2024, Davis is still building his legacy within the ranks of Northern Ireland football, although he has been bothered by injury. At the end of 2023, Davis's 140 international caps are the most of any British footballer. A dependable midfielder, Davis made his international debut in early 2005, and a little more than one year later he was named captain of the national squad. A true leader on and off the pitch, Davis remains a valuable talent while registering 13 career international goals.

Also known as "Sir Bobby," Charlton was the greatest player on the greatest England national team of all time. When Charlton passed in October 2023 at age 86, time seemed to stop in England and throughout the international football community — and rightfully so. He ranks among the country’s all-time leaders with 106 appearances (1958-70) for the national squad. For years, Charlton's 49 goals for England were the most in their history, three of which came during the Three Lions’ run to the 1966 World Cup title. He also won the Ballon d’Or in the same year. When it comes to football royalty in England, they don’t get much more renowned than Charlton, who is also a Manchester United legend. Actually, it's not really close.

Another prominent goal-scorer from Wales, though as most U.K. football fans are aware, Hughes was a versatile performer who also shined when slotted in the midfield. Hughes scored 16 goals while featuring in 72 international matches from 1984-99. However, none might be as memorable as the very first one. On 2 May 1984 and just 17 minutes into his debut for the Wales national team, Hughes scored the winner versus England. Meanwhile, on the club level, Hughes totaled more than 160 goals, with most coming as a member of Manchester United.

For quite a long while, no English international scored more goals than Rooney’s 53, generated from 2003-18, and eight of which came over 13 matches during the 2014 campaign. His 120 caps with the Three Lions rank second all time, and his 74 matches in World Cup and European Championships — including qualifiers — are also the most from any England national footballer. While Rooney's national teams never seemed to match the individual success the superstar enjoyed amid those competitions, that was not the case while scoring a club-record 183 goals for Manchester United, which won 16 major trophies during his tenure. 

When it came to finding the back of the net, Greaves remains one of the best strikers to ever do it. The London native totaled 44 international goals (fifth in England’s history) in just 57 matches, nine of which came during six matches in 1960. He's also quite notable to England fans for missing out on the country's run to the 1966 World Cup title because of injury, losing his starting spot to Geoff Hurst. Greaves, however, was still considered a member of the ’66 squad, but didn’t receive his World Cup medal from that triumph until 2009.

The first of two legendary Scottish forwards we'll highlight. When it comes to Law, he's another in long list of Manchester United stars, and one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the storied club. On the international front, Law shares the all-time Scotland goal lead, posting 30 over a senior national team career that spanned 55 matches from 1958-74. He was a member of the 1958 Scotland World Cup side, and saw action when the Scots returned to the event in 1974.

Before there was David Beckham, there was George Best — young, handsome and one brilliant footballer. Of course, Best lived the lifestyle of a celebrity, thanks to his play on the pitch, and it led to his personal downfall and death in 2005 at age 59. Winner of the 1968 Ballon d'Or while starring for Manchester United, Best was truly at his best on the club level. A fantastic possessor of the ball who also seemed to score at will (nearly 250 career club goals), Best has often been hailed the greatest player never to compete in a World Cup finals tournament. He did have success on the international level for Northern Ireland, however, scoring nine goals in 37 such matches from 1964-77.

Dalglish is the man who shares Scotland's all-time goals record with the aforementioned Denis Law at 30. When it comes to the greatest players in the history of United Kingdom football, Dalglish must be mentioned in the conversation. On the club level, he made more than 550 appearances and scored 229 goals while starring for Celtic and Liverpool. Meanwhile, his 102 caps for the Scotland national team remain the most in the history of the program, while playing from 1971-86. He was selected for four Scotland World Cup sides (1974, '78, '82 and '86). During the '78 event, Dalglish scored during Scotland's memorable 3-2 victory over eventual runner-up Netherlands in the group stage.

Another Wales legend up there with Bale. In fact, Rush's 28 goals scored, spanning an exceptional international career that included 73 caps from 1980-96, were a national record until the aforementioned Bale broke it in 2018. Sadly, Wales never qualified for a major tournament or world event during Rush's run with his home side. However, Rush is responsible for one of the most memorable moments in Welsh football history when he notched the winner against Germany in a qualifying match for the 1992 European Championship.

One of the most feared strikers in the history of English football, Shearer holds the record for career goals scored in Premier League play (260) during a career that spanned from 1992-2006. When it came Shearer's career as an England international (1992-2000), he certainly made the most of his opportunity. In 63 matches, Shearer totaled 30 goals — tied for seventh all time. In 1996, Shearer scored eight times in nine international fixtures. His seven career goals during the European Championships are a national record.

No player in English national team history has scored more goals than Kane. As of January 2024, Kane has totaled 62 international goals in 89 caps since debuting for the Three Lions in 2015. In 2021, Kane registered 16 goals in 16 matches, just two years removed from his 12 scored in 10 games for the national side. OK, the captain has been known to underachieve in big matches at times, but he nearly helped England win the delayed 2020 Euros. Kane's eight World Cup goals are second among England players. Now, all he needs to do is lead his homeland to more long-awaited World Cup glory.