Despite England’s wealth of talent, Wayne Rooney has made a surprising choice, skipping over the likes of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane to crown Phil Foden as the Three Lions’ top player.
While Bellingham has emerged as a crucial figure for England—starting every match at Euro 2024 and scoring key goals against Serbia and Slovakia to push the team to the final—Rooney believes Foden stands out. Foden, on the other hand, has had a rocky international career. Though he started every game at the Euros, the Manchester City star struggled to make his usual impact on the pitch.
These underwhelming performances come after Foden had an outstanding Premier League season, even earning the Player of the Season award. Rooney, however, remains unwavering in his belief that Foden should be central to England’s plans going forward.
“For me, it’s Phil Foden,” Rooney revealed in an interview with talkSPORT when asked about England’s best player. “I know he hasn’t had much game time for Man City this season, but when Foden is at his best, there’s no one better in the England squad.”
Rooney also acknowledged the brilliance of other young talents like Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Real Madrid’s Bellingham, but he remained steadfast in his view. “They’re incredible, but Foden is the one I truly enjoy watching,” Rooney added.
Looking ahead, Rooney expressed some concern about the future, especially with regard to Harry Kane. “Kane has scored plenty of goals, but if he’s not quite at the same level in two years’ time for the next tournament, what impact will that have?” Rooney mused. “Hopefully, a new forward steps up, or Kane keeps finding the back of the net. Either way, England has plenty of exciting options—Foden, Jack Grealish, James Maddison. The talent is there.”
This season, Foden has had a slow start, featuring in only three games across all competitions. A recent illness has limited his appearances for Manchester City, but he still managed to score and assist in the team’s dominant win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola, Foden’s club manager, remains confident the 24-year-old will soon be firing on all cylinders. “Phil doesn’t need much time to get back to his best,” Guardiola explained, dismissing concerns about Foden’s limited playing time. “He’s crucial to us, whether he starts or comes off the bench. With all the matches we’ve got, he’ll get his minutes—no question.”
Rooney’s vote of confidence in Foden, despite the midfielder’s challenges, suggests England’s future may be shaped around his immense potential. Whether Foden can live up to those expectations remains to be seen, but Rooney’s faith is clear.
