Playing for England is meant to be one of the biggest honours in football. Some stars have never had the possibility, though, despite shining for their clubs in the Premier League. Steve Bruce, Kevin Campbell and Mark Noble are just a few of the names who never pulled on the famous shirt.
Playing for your country is one of the highest honours in football. It might not bring financial luxury and comfort, but it carries pride. As a feeling almost impossible to replicate, even the best players in the world dream of singing the national anthem at the hardest international tournaments in the world .
England have only won one major tournament – the World Cup in 1966 – yet they've had countless memorable memories over the years. From World Cup semi-finals in 1990 and 2018 to Euros final goals in 2021 and 2024, following the Three Lions has been a rollercoaster journey. For the players who have featured, it's been a dream come true, however, not everyone has that privilege.
With the likes of Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones yet to play for their country in the present day, we have decided to rank the nine greatest English players to never pull on the famous white shirt. The list is full of stars. Ability - Whether they were regarded as a 'high-level' player.
Performance at club level - How they performed for their club and whether they were 'unlucky' to not be called up. Era - It has been harder to play for England in specific eras compared to others. Best English Pl.