Gary Neville says ex-Premier League striker is "greatest England player ever" – not Rooney
da bet nacional： The pressure is on England next summer. The Three Lions’ golden generation – and there’s no escaping that they are exactly that – have fallen at the last hurdle one too many times and 2026 must be different. This time, there’s no Gareth Southgate and there’s no excuses.
da bet7： With a manager who has been a Champions League winner at club level and only left Bayern Munich in 2024 in charge in the form of Thomas Tuchel, England should have the perfect package to end 60 years of hurt. The women’s side already brought football home on the European stage. Now, the men’s side must follow suit and hand it a permanent place.
This isn’t the first golden generation to be burdened with pressure, however. Before Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, there was Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Frank Lampard. There was Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole. The list could go on. It couldn’t have been a more talented squad if England tried, yet they came away without glory.
They remain some of the best players to ever play for England, but Gary Neville admitted that the squad never did enough to earn the ‘golden generation’ label, saying in 2010: “There are a lot of new players in the squad now added to the remnants of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ players.
“But, to be honest, the ‘Golden Generation’ wasn’t very golden from where I was sat in the England squad. We didn’t win any tournaments or do ourselves justice. You get called a golden generation when you win things.”
It is perhaps why the Manchester United legend chose to snub the likes of Rooney when recently claiming who he believes is England’s greatest ever player.
Neville: Kane is "greatest England player ever"
Despite the aforementioned legends that he played alongside, Neville named Harry Kane as the “greatest England player ever” last summer. The current Bayern Munich star earned Neville’s praise ahead of Rooney, who he has long overtaken to become the country’s top goalscorer.
It’s difficult to disagree with that verdict. Kane may not have a trophy to his name at international level, but it hasn’t been for the want of trying. The Tottenham Hotspur legend has both a World Cup Golden Boot and Euro Golden Boot to his name and stands clear as the Three Lions’ top goalscorer.
England top scorers
Goals
Harry Kane
73
Wayne Rooney
53
Sir Bobby Charlton
49
Gary Lineker
48
Jimmy Greaves
44
At 32 years old, Kane has shown no signs of slowing down at Bayern Munich and has the chance to lead England to glory at next summer’s World Cup. After ending his wait for a trophy at club level, the iconic forward now has the chance to end a 60-year wait for the entire country.