The England soccer team has had many great players, but only a few have played more than 100 games for the Three Lions. Since 1950, England has played in most FIFA World Cups. Yet, more of England’s most capped players are from the Premiership generation because there are more international matches in the modern game. These are the five most-capped England soccer players in history.
While many consider Banks to be the best goalkeeper England has had, Shilton holds the record for the most-capped England soccer player. Shilton played a total of 125 games as England’s first-choice goalkeeper in a career that covered two decades. Shilton started to play for England during the 1970s, although England failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups.
During the 1980s, England qualified for all the World Cups from 1982 up to 1990, and Shilton played in all of them. These included some of England’s longest-lasting World Cups, such as Italia ’90, when England reached the semi-finals. England’s third-place play-off with Italy was his last England game. Shilton also played in the 1988 European Championships.
Wayne Rooney broke onto the England soccer team in 2003 and remained a regular player for the Three Lions until 2016. He was one of the best forwards in England’s history, scoring 53 goals in 120 matches. His 53-goal tally scored for the Three Lions is the second-highest total for an England player after Harry Kane. Rooney played in all European Championships and World Cups England qualified for from Euro 2004 until 2016.
Beckham played 115 matches for England. Those games included three World Cups from 1998 up to 2006. Beckham scored in all of these World Cups and was prolific from set-pieces. One of Beckham’s best moments for England was his magnificent free-kick scored against Greece in the dying minutes to secure qualification for the 2002 World Cup. His ball crossing was also outstanding, which made him a good choice for playing on the wing.
Steven Gerrard is a Liverpool legend and also one of the most-capped England soccer players in history. Gerrard started playing in England’s midfield from 2000 up until 2014. During that period, he played 114 matches and scored 21 goals for England. Gerrard was England’s captain for 38 of the games he played.
An undoubted highlight of Gerrard’s England career was his fantastic first goal scored against Germany from way outside the box in a match the Three Lions won 5-1. Gerrard’s belter against Trinidad and Tobago in 2016 was another of his great England goals. His last England goal, scored against Poland, was a crucial one that secured qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Captain of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, Moore was one of the great England players who lifted the Jules Rimet trophy after the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory against Germany. Moore began playing for England in 1962 and played in the 1962 World Cup. He would play for England for eleven years, culminating in 1973, when England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup. Moore played 108 games for England during this period, including three World Cups.
These are five of the greatest England players who have played the most matches for the Three Lions. Harry Kane has played 105 matches for England and counting. He’s one current player who could realistically become one of the five most-capped England soccer players before he retires. It’ll be interesting to see how it unfolds, but only time will tell.
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