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England are home to one of the most exciting leagues in the world - the Premier League. Over the years, several stars from England's youth system have come through the ranks. They have made it big in the league and subsequently with the Three Lions.
Players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Gary Lineker and George Best have all represented their nation at the highest level, having excelled in the Premier League.
England's top footballing moment came in 1966, though, winning the FIFA World Cup in incredible fashion. Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick to seal the nation's first and only FIFA World Cup triumph so far.
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England have done well in recent years, though. They reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup before reaching the final of Euro 2020, which they lost to Italy on penalties. The Three Lions now have the FIFA World Cup in Qatar next year on their radar.
Despite not having any international trophies to show for their talent, English players have rarely failed to entertain on the pitch. The players have scored some stunning goals, provided visionary passes or simply entertained with their personalities.
On that note, here's a look at the five most entertaining players in England's rich footballing history.
#5 Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney was born in Liverpool, England, in 1985. He began his youth career with Everton, and broke onto the scene with a stunning strike for the Toffees against Arsenal in the Premier League.
Rooney, then on the cusp of turning 17, unleashed a venomous strike into the top corner to end Arsenal's 30-game unbeaten league run.
Wayne Rooney signed for Manchester United in 2004 for £27 million - the highest-ever fee paid for a player under 20. He scored 253 goals and provided 161 assists in 561 appearances for the Red Devils.
The Englishman won five Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League and one FA Cup with United. Rooney is Manchester United's all-time top scorer with 253 goals.
During his time with Manchester United, Rooney scored some jaw-dropping goals. That included a stunning overhead kick against city rivals Manchester City. The goal was voted the greatest in Premier League history.
Wayne Rooney is also England's top scorer with 53 goals in 120 games. He achieved the feat with a penalty against Switzerland in 2015.
Apart his footballing talent, Rooney was infamous for his temper tantrums on the pitch when things didn't go his or his team's way. He always played with passion and grit, but sometimes that got the better of him.
Rooney received a red card for a stamp on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The Englishman retired from professional football in 2021, and has since been the full-time manager of Derby County in the Championship.
#4 David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham was born in London, England, in 1975. Throughout his career, Beckham was renowned for his incredible shooting technique for free-kicks. Becks, as he was fondly named, was also known for his unique style off the pitch as well.
Beckham played for several big clubs during his illustrious career - the most notable spells being for Manchester United and Real Madrid. Having come through the ranks with the Red Devils, the Englishman won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League title with United.
David Beckham scored some incredible free-kicks over the course of his career.
Such was his mastery over shooting the ball that he even managed to score from behind the halfway-line on one occasion. He did so in the first game of the 1996-97 season for United against Wimbledon.
In 2003, following an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, tempers flared in the United dressing room. Then manager Sir Alex Ferguson kicked a boot towards Beckham that cut him over the eye, with the England captain needing stitches. Their relationship deteriorated further, and Becks joined Real Madrid for €37 million.
David Beckham was a key player for England as well, captaining the side for many years in the 2000s. He was England's hero in 2001 when they needed a draw against Greece to qualify for the World Cup the next summer.
Trailing 2-1 in the dying minutes, England received a free-kick on the edge of Greece's box. Beckham scored a tasty curler to send England through.
Beckham retired from the game in 2013 at Paris Saint-Germain. He currently owns Inter Miami in the MLS, and will hope to achieve great things in his new venture.
#3 Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne, nicknamed Gazza, was born in Durham, England, in 1967. He predominantly played as an attacking midfielder, and represented Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, among others.
Gazza came through the ranks at Newcastle in the 1980s, and signed his first professional contract with the Magpies in 1984. Four years later, he moved to Spurs, where he won the FA Cup in 1991. Gazza scored a free-kick in the semi-final against arch-rivals Arsenal to help Spurs push for the cup.
Paul Gascoigne had his fair share of England appearances as well. He represented the Three Lions 57 times, scoring ten goals.
One of his most memorable moments occurred with Gazza wearing the Three Lions' kit. He cried after being booked in the semi-final of Euro 1996 - a card that meant he would be suspended for the final. However, England never reached the final, losing to eventual winners Germany on penalties in the last four.
Nevertheless, he had a wonderful campaign, and produced some classy moments throughout the tournament.
In the later stages of his career, Gascoigne struggled with alcoholism, and that affected his mental health as well. He retired as a player in 2004. Gascoigne has not worked in football since being fired as Kettering Town's boss in 2005.
#2 Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard was born in Whiston, Merseyside, England, in 1980. He is arguably the greatest ever Liverpool player to come through the ranks at the club's academy before making it big. Gerrard spent most of his career as Liverpool and England captain.
He was known for taking the initiative on a football pitch with his aggression and scintillating shooting ability. Gerrard also produced some incredible moments for the Reds. He scored a goal late on in a Champions League game against Olympiacos in 2004 to send Liverpool through to the knockout stage.
His first ever goal for Liverpool, too, was a memorable effort.
Steven Gerrard was a leader in the England squad as well. He represented his nation 114 times, scoring 21 goals. However, he was unlucky that none of the England sides he was a part of won silverware.
In a record 710 appearances for Liverpool, Gerrard scored 186 goals and provided 155 assists.
Gerrard retired as a player in 2016, and has since been a manager at various clubs. He is currently in charge at Aston Villa, and will look to propel the club into the top half of the Premier League table.
#1 Jamie Vardy
Jamie Richard Vardy was born in Sheffield, England, in 1987. He began his career in 2003 at Stocksbridge Park Steels and signed his first professional contract with them in 2007. After prolific spells at Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town, Leicester City snapped up Vardy in 2012 for £1 million.
Vardy has scored 156 goals and provided 65 assists in 373 games for Leicester since joining them in 2012. Out of those strikes, 127 have come in 261 appearances in the Premier League. Vardy has hit double figures for goals in every season since 2015, and is just one goal shy of repeating the feat this season.
Jamie Vardy set an incredible record in 2015, going 15 consecutive games with at least one goal contribution. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah recently equalled that record.
Starting off relatively late in the Premier League, Jamie Vardy has amassed an incredible goal tally. He was instrumental in Leicester City's fairy-tale Premier League title run in the 2015-16 season, bagging 24 goals and eight assists.
Vardy has scored some incredible goals in the league, including an unbelievable first-time volleyed effort against Liverpool. Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel launched a long ball towards Vardy in space, and the striker finished that off in incredible style.
With great goals came great celebrations, and Vardy isn't one to shy away from audacious celebrations. He has cupped his ears to opposition supporters, celebrated and done knee-slides in front of them, and has even smashed a corner flag to smithereens on one occasion. Vardy explains why he celebrates like that in the video below:
Jamie Vardy scored seven goals in 26 appearances for England in a relatively short international career. His Leicester City side currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, and Vardy will hope to save their blushes before the season ends.
