Including Euro 2022 champions, but also runners-up from Euro 2009 and the 2023 World Cup, GOAL ranks England's best women's players since 2000…

At the start of the 21st century, England were not a force in women's football. They'd failed to qualify for both the 1997 European Championship and the 1999 Women's World Cup and, after crashing out in the group stages of Euro 2001, would also fall short of reaching the 2003 World Cup. However, that's all changed now, with the Lionesses winning their first major tournament at Euro 2022 and backing it up with a first Women's World Cup final a year later.

Hope Powell, one of the finest coaches the women's game has seen, played a huge part in laying the foundations for this rise, and so did a lot of top players who did not have the resources and professional status that the stars of today do. For every Leah Williamson and Georgia Stanway, there is a Faye White and a Jill Scott who helped to pave the way.

Because of the many different eras that the England women's national team has gone through in the past 25 years alone, it is tricky to rank the best players to represent the Lionesses in that time. Yes, the current generation have achieved things that those of the past never did, but achievements such as reaching the Euro 2009 final or finishing third at the 2015 Women's World Cup are also important, particularly in the journey to reaching the point England are at today.

So, who are the greatest players to represent the Lionesses in the 21st century? Taking into account only international exploits, GOAL runs through the cream of the crop…

Getty Images25Rachel Unitt

One of only six players to be named England Women's Player of the Year more than once, Rachel Unitt racked up 102 caps for the Lionesses after making her debut back in 2000. From there, she'd establish herself as a regular under Powell, to the extent that when central contracts were first handed out by the Football Association back in 2009, the left-back was among the 17 players who received one. A few months after that, Unitt was part of the England team that enjoyed an historic run to the Euro 2009 final.

Sadly, after hitting a century of caps in 2012, Unitt would be hampered by injuries which drew her international career to a premature end. A foot problem ruled her out of that year's Olympic Games, which provided a watershed moment for women's football in Great Britain, and an ACL injury ruled her out of Euro 2013. However, the disappointing conclusion to her time as an England player should not overshadow what a fantastic servant Unitt was to her country.

AdvertisementGetty Images24Rachel Brown-Finnis

England's starting goalkeeper for that run to the Euro 2009 final, Rachel Brown-Finnis spent the first few years of the 21st century battling it out with stalwart Pauline Cope for the No.1 shirt, racking up a decent number of caps along the way despite generally remaining an understudy until Cope's shock retirement in 2004. From there, Brown-Finnis emerged from the pack to become the Lionesses' new first-choice goalkeeper.

After playing all four of England's games at the 2007 Women's World Cup, and keeping an impressive clean sheet against Germany, the Everton icon remained the Lionesses' go-to shot-stopper for a memorable, and somewhat unexpected, Euro 2009 campaign.

Despite keeping five clean sheets in seven outings in qualifying for the 2011 World Cup, she would lose her starting berth at that tournament to Karen Bardsley. But Brown-Finnis was England's best goalkeeper for at least five strong years in this century, which is more than enough for a place on this list.

Getty Images23Rachel Daly

There is an argument to be made that there has been no greater servant to the Lionesses this century than Rachel Daly. Despite making her international debut in 2016, it wasn't until 2023 that the striker actually started to compete for game time with England in her natural position. Throughout the seven years prior, Daly played almost every outfield role possible. "I'm ready to play in whatever position I'm needed," she would say.

While playing at right-back, left-back, out wide and even in a rather rogue No.10 role might have been tough at times, as it could stop Daly from really bringing her very best attributes to the table, it helped the team massively. Her six successive starts at left-back at Euro 2022 were her biggest contribution, helping Sarina Wiegman to plug a problem position as the Lionesses won their first-ever major tournament.

After showing attitude and commitment that was absolutely second-to-none, Daly surprisingly called time on her international career in April 2024, and Wiegman's reaction summed up what makes her one of England's best players of this century. "It has been a privilege to work with her," she said. "I have never worked with a player so versatile, always with a smile on her face, always bringing energy, and trying to do her best for the team."

Getty Images22Sue Smith

While Sue Smith's time as an England player didn't overlap with their most successful era, there are many that would pick her out as one of the most talented women's footballers that the country has ever produced. A tricky forward with a knack for the spectacular, she made her international debut back in 1997 and would enjoy 15 years as a Lioness, with the pinnacle certainly the run to the Euro 2009 final.

There were some real lows in that decade-and-a-half, too, which Smith had to bounce back from. Be it a broken leg, torn ligaments or omissions from major tournament squads, she always rebounded in a big way in an international career which returned three Player of the Year awards, 93 caps and plenty of magical moments.