There will be a whole host of talent on display at the 2026 World Cup, and the teams that contain the most collective quality will likely go far into the competition. Many believe England have a number of elite players who could carry them far, but pundit Gary Neville doesn't seem to think they have many truly 'world-class' stars.
In Qatar 2022, Lionel Messi proved himself as perhaps the greatest player of all time as he led Argentina to glory. Before that, Kylian Mbappe announced himself to the world as France won the competition in 2018. Even dating back to the 1958 Corld Cup, a 17-year-old from Brazil named Pele took the sport by storm and never looked back.
Essentially, at every tournament in FIFA history, at least one player has come to define the competition thanks to their brilliance. Fans can expect the same in 2026, but it's unclear who that character will be just yet.
Going into the tournament, however, former Manchester United and England right-back Neville has his doubts about how many truly elite players make up Thomas Tuchel's squad.
Neville Claims England Have Just One Truly Elite Player
England players pose for a team group photo before the match vs Costa RicaImage via Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck
Despite not having won a World Cup since 1966, England come into the tournament as one of the favourites. The Three Lions will be expected to get out of their group, despite some potentially tricky matches to come against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
The team is stacked full of quality, with Bayern Munich ace and Ballon d'Or contender Harry Kane the headline act. Arsenal's Premier League champions Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will also be expected to star, as will a number of other squad members such as Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson.
Despite the obvious collection of quality among the group, Neville believes England only has one 'world-class' player in the 26-man squad. As quoted by Sky Sports, he said of Kane on ITV:
"He's a star. You talk about England having talented players, but we have one genuinely world-class player and that is Harry Kane."
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Gary Neville
Doubling down on his controversial call, which has sparked a major debate online, Neville explained his comment, insisting that Tuchel had built his team around getting the best out of the Bayern striker:
"This whole squad that Thomas Tuchel has picked - in the attacking part - is all [to focus] around him.
"There are form issues, but there's no (Phil) Foden, (Cole) Palmer, (Morgan) Gibbs-White - he wants players who can run past him. Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers are players who can sprint past him.
"This whole squad is about Kane. This whole tournament - a lot of it rests upon his shoulders.
"But the pressure? He won't feel that. He's as solid as a rock. He's as good as they come as a professional. You can't break him. "You talk about England players who come to tournaments who opposition players can maybe get at, he's the one where you can't. He's absolutely gold."
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Neville went on to heap more praise on Kane, as he suggested he's one of just a few truly top players to come out of the country in the 21st century:
"How many world-class players have England had in the last 20 to 30 years? World-class, where there's not even a doubt. He's one of them."
Kane is currently England's record goalscorer with 79 goals in 114 appearances. If he can add a fair amount to his tally this summer, he could become the first captain to lead England to World Cup glory since Bobby Moore.