A number of world-class players have graced the England football team and worn the Three Lions with pride over the years. From the members of the 1966 World Cup winning team, to the current stars who light up the FA Premier League every week, England have always had quality running through their team. Whether it be agile goalkeepers, strong defenders, creative midfielders or prolific strikers, England have had them all in abundance. But who is the greatest England footballer of all-time? Here is a rundown of my top ten England World Cup stars of all-time:

10: Peter Shilton – The goalkeeper remains the most capped England player for the time being earning 125 international caps. The keeper was very reliable for his country for a number of years and was a fine exponent of the position. Shilton was England’s first choice goalkeeper throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, before he eventually retired from international football after the 1990 World Cup. A great all-round keeper with few weaknesses, Shilton was often up to the task when called upon.

9: Wayne Rooney – The Manchester United striker is still relatively young and is yet to hit his peak, but he is by far the most talented player of his generation. In his short career he has already won 55 international caps and scored 25 times for England, and will no doubt go onto to achieve greater feats. He has a great footballing brain, and to a large extent is the complete striker, as not only is he a goal scorer but he also creates many goals, is committed in his performances and works incredibly hard for the team.

8: Billy Wright – Wright went on an incredible run of 70 consecutive appearances for England from 1951, and captained his country for 90 of his 105 caps. The defender often described as a national treasure, was said to have been a team player, who was always reliable and turned simplicity into an art form. Mr Dynamo as called by a number of his teammates for the amount of running he did, was a determined player who knew his role within the England team and did it with minimum fuss.

7: David Beckham – The midfielder often led England single-handedly in his peak and his passion for his country cannot be doubted. Beckham has now won over 100 international caps, and after bursting onto the world stage for his free-kick ability, he showed how he was a complete player. Hard-working and determined, not afraid to get stuck in and win a tackle, the best passer of his generation, Beckham brought many skills to the England team and was always proud to pull on the Three Lions.

6: Gary Lineker – Although Linker was often said to be just a goal scorer, that is hardly a criticism of the striker. Lineker’s goal scoring record cannot be questioned, scoring 48 goals for England at a strike-rate of better than a goal every other game. The classic ‘fox in the box’, Lineker is regarded as one of England’s all-time best strikers and is 2nd on the list of England top scorers. He also remains as the only England player to win the golden boot at a World Cup, which he achieved in 1986.

5: Sir Stanley Matthews – Matthews remains the only English footballer to be knighted while he was still playing, and The Wizard of Dribble tormented many full-backs during his career. The right winger kept fit enough to play until he was 50, an amazing feat itself, and represented his country 54 times despite playing in the world war era. The oldest player to ever play for England, he is also thought to be one of the original show boaters when he combed his hair mid game whilst holding onto the ball.

4: Paul Gascoigne – One of the most talented players to ever play for England, Gascoigne was a natural footballer and could do almost anything with the ball at his feet. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious, and his skill level was unrivalled during his England career. Best known for crying at the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany, an illustration of his passion for football and England, Gascoigne just loved playing football and the attacking midfielder was a creative genius.

3: Gordon Banks – Banks is arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, and his excellence in goal led to the phrase ‘Safe as the Banks of England.’ A member of the 1966 World Cup winning side, Banks pulled off what many people class as the best save of all-time when he showed incredible anticipation and agility to keep out a Pele effort in the 1970 World Cup. Banks earned 73 caps for his country and was undoubtedly a major factor in England’s only ever World Cup success.

2: Sir Bobby Charlton – The Manchester United attacking midfielder to this day is England’s all-time record goal scorer, hitting the back of the net 49 times for his country. Not only is this an incredible record for a midfielder, but some of his goals were absolutely sensational and scored with many unstoppable strikes that seemed to come from nowhere. Part of the victorious England team of the 1966 World Cup, Charlton had all the attributes of a great midfielder, grace, speed and athleticism.

1: Sir Bobby Moore – The captain of the 1966 World Cup winning side, Moore was a master of the art of defending and a great leader. He won 108 caps for England, and the West Ham legend became the rock around which Sir Alf Ramsey’s England team was built. His positioning on the football field was unrivalled, he read the game as well as anyone and his tackling ability was of the highest order. Bobby Moore was quite simply a great defender who always put in towering performances for England.

So 1966 World Cup Winning captain Sir Bobby Moore has topped the list of the greatest England footballer of all-time. It is obviously difficult to compare players from different generations, but all of the players on the list are or were world class footballers. How many of England’s current stars will make become all-time England greats in the future, and does anyone else deserve to make the top ten?