England World Cup ratings: Every Three Lions player who took part in the tournament rated | Football News
England’s World Cup campaign is officially over and while history has been made – it’s not quite the history the Three Lions wanted.
A stunning 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off earned the Thomas Tuchel’s side a bronze medal – and England’s best performance at a World Cup since the 1966 World Cup.
But it could have been more. England were leading their semi-final with Argentina with five minutes of normal time remaining before conceding twice to the holders in agonising fashion.
So who stepped up for England this summer? Who failed to convince? All of the 26 players, plus Thomas Tuchel, are rated below…
Jordan Pickford – 6
Not a vintage tournament after recent penalty shootout successes in previous tournaments. Not great in DR Congo and Norway goals in the knockout stages but did have very good outings against Mexico at the Azteca and then Argentina before the two late goals. Not to blame for England’s exit.
Jordan Pickford stood out in his performance against Mexico
Ezri Konsa – 6
The only England player to start every game before the semi-final. Looked pretty good but then clearly ran out of steam during the quarter-finals, which cost him his spot against Argentina. Was back up to speed against France and got a goal out of it – his defensive partnership with Marc Guehi can grow for England.
England’s Ezri Konsa was a regular at the back and looked promising
Nico O’Reilly – 6
For a first tournament, absolutely fine. Didn’t really put in a standout display in the tournament but got into good areas and didn’t make any real mistakes at the back. Couple of fiery moments of frustration and may have been upended by Djed Spence come the end of the tournament. But promising signs.
Nico O’Reilly had a solid first tournament with England
Declan Rice – 7
If you want the best version of Rice, you need him at 100 per cent. He wasn’t. He had a standout moment in the third-place play-off wonder strike against France, but still delivered so many tackles, ball recoveries and strides forward. Crucial in the opening goals against Mexico and Argentina.
After coming off at half-time with illness against Norway, England’s vulnerability in midfield showed what happens when he’s not there, while his right-back cameo against DR Congo helped change the game.
Rice wasn’t fully fit but still delivered
John Stones – 7
Doesn’t have a club but can still do a job, even though he came in and out of the team. Had one crucial block in the dying moments against Mexico and kept Erling Haaland quiet against Norway really well. Also pranked Tuchel with a an injured shoulder joke in the dressing room after the Mexico game.
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Watch the hilarious moment John Stones pranked England boss Thomas Tuchel with a fake shoulder injury during the dressing room celebrations after beating Mexico. X credit: @England.
Marc Guehi – 6
Solid tournament. Went under the radar, which is what you want as a defender. Put his head where it hurts in crucial times and was particularly crucial at the Azteca.
England’s Marc Guehi put his body on the line at times
Bukayo Saka – 7
Perhaps the most frustrating England player at this tournament, in the most positive sense. Just like in the Champions League final for Arsenal, he clearly wasn’t fit enough for England for most of the summer. Good against Mexico and Norway and got three assists in his first 192 minutes.
Then, when the group stages were over, he probably put in the best individual display of the team against France with his hat-trick. He should have started against Argentina, but Tuchel made a huge blunder in not. Hopefully, come Euro 2028, he will be fully fit.
The stats that show Bukayo Saka should have started at the World Cup
Elliot Anderson – 7
Became a £116m player during the tournament, and while it wasn’t quite that level, there were still some really good moments that show a lot of promise. Was better at high pressing – that second goal against Mexico the standout moment – than actually protecting the back four. But if this is his first tournament, Euro 2028 after two years with Man City should be excellent.
Elliot Anderson impressed in his first England tournament
Harry Kane – 7
Before the Norway game, the England captain had a much higher rating. But Kane completely went missing against Norway and Argentina when it really mattered. Still one of the best goalscorers in the world, but how long does he have on the major international stage?
England’s Harry Kane was in the goals but went missing come the end of the tournament
Jude Bellingham – 8
England’s star of the tournament. Clutch player. And now record breaker – his seven goals are the most by an England player at any major tournament.
It was not just the goals, but his drive to take England up the pitch, which ended up being quite important given how they were eliminated. Also gave the best England off-field moment of the tournament: “Whatever.”
Jude Bellingham was England’s star player
Marcus Rashford – 5
Got off to a good start with his goal against Croatia but didn’t take his chance when Anthony Gordon dropped off. Looked sharp again against France but his withdrawal at half-time made it look like a cameo rather than a contribution. Gordon has taken his spot in the Barcelona and England team, so where does he go now?
Marcus Rashford failed to take his chance
Trevoh Chalobah – n/a
Well done Trevoh for eventually picking up the phone to Tuchel as the late call-up. But it should have been Trent Alexander-Arnold. Or an actual right-back. Any right-back. Got five minutes at the end of the third-place play-off.
Dean Henderson – 6
Only got a run-out when England lost the semi-final and actually made some decent first-half saves in the third-place play-off against France. Nothing could have been done about France’s four in the second half. Could be in a position to challenge Pickford in the future.
Kobbie Mainoo – n/a
A conundrum. Not used despite Rice’s fitness woes and England’s midfield struggles. Then gets ‘injured’ for the England reserve game against France after looking ‘demoralised’. Not a great look after a resurgence in 2026.
Jordan Henderson – n/a
Six minutes of action against Panama. One yellow card as a substitute against Mexico. One broken wrist in the Azteca celebrations. One of the all-time great cameo stories at the World Cup. There for the dressing room, but had more of an impact than Mainoo. Just.
Jordan Henderson broke his arm in the celebrations against Mexico
Dan Burn – 7
Cult hero. Three big headers in this tournament. Two that crossed the half-way line from inside his own box against Mexico. One smashing one in the final seconds against Norway. Had a simple task and mostly delivered.
Dan Burn became a cult hero
Morgan Rogers – 6
Some nice moments at times, including that assist for Anthony Gordon in the semi-final against Argentina and his long-range effort which forced the Jude Bellingham winner against Norway. But he came into the summer in a No 10 battle with Bellingham and was emphatically beaten. Not his fault, but not his tournament.
Morgan Rogers had limited chances to prove himself
Anthony Gordon – 7
He’ll always have that goal against Argentina. A slow start to the tournament but Barcelona’s new man really hit top gear in the knockout rounds. Won a penalty in Mexico, England’s joint-best starting forward against Norway and scored in the semi-final.
Anthony Gordon made the left wing his own
Ollie Watkins – 5
Did so well to make the plane with his end-of-season form for Aston Villa, but clearly didn’t do enough in front of Tuchel in training to impact the actual tournament. Just got seven minutes before the semi-final exit – and became third-choice striker behind Ivan Toney.
Noni Madueke – 5
Noni Madueke failed to take most of the chances presented to him
Played more minutes than he would have expected, but his stock still went down. Got into good areas and his team-mates clearly trusted him, but the final ball wasn’t there enough. Barely did anything of note after winning a penalty in the opening minutes against Croatia.
Eberechi Eze – 6
Mostly a substitute player this tournament but struggled to make an impact. His excellent outing against France – his only start of the tournament – showcased what you could get from him in longer periods. But with Gordon and Bellingham impressing, there was no space for a starting spot.
Ivan Toney – 5
Was picked as England’s penalty-taker expert and didn’t get a penalty chance to prove it. Only got a couple of chaotic minutes against Argentina and did not do much in his only start against France.
James Trafford – n/a
Third-choice goalkeeper. Had a good front row seat of the action though.
Reece James – 6
Everybody knew he’d get injured – and he got injured. Not his fault that England didn’t really provide enough back-up for him. Was alright when he played, but cannot be relied on unless his injury record improves.
Djed Spence – 6
That tackle against Argentina was good, wasn’t it? Shame it didn’t matter. Surprised a few this summer with some good displays, including some mazy running in the win over France. His stock has probably gone up a little, especially after his catchy song.
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After Djed Spence’s brilliant cameo off the bench against Norway, England fans Ben Cipolla and Dan Lucas came up with a new song for the full back titled ‘Total Eclipse of Djed Spence’.
Jarell Quansah – 5
England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off against Mexico
Not a bad right-back option and was unlucky that he couldn’t get his two-game suspension in the knockout rounds suspended by a government official. He will learn from the red card against Mexico, but looked slow to the game in his next appearance vs France.
Thomas Tuchel – 6
At the start of the tournament, it was all about Tuchel’s excellent in-game changes. The half-time team talk against Croatia, the backs-to-the-wall effort against Mexico. But then the England head coach came up short when it mattered – which is the opposite of what he was brought in to do.
Not starting Saka against Argentina was followed by a defensive outlook to see out the semi-final. It backfired. He is under pressure.
Anthony Barry – 6
For media appearances, 10/10. “We’re playing with broken hearts,” during half-time of the France win was absolutely golden. He was also the mastermind behind Rice playing at right-back vs DR Congo. But that makes him equally responsible for England’s questionable tactical calls.
