Declan Rice

Rice was central to Arsenal's 2025/26 Premier League title win — their first English championship in 22 years — with his set-piece deliveries a key part of a Gunners side that scored from a record 19 corners that season. Arsenal also reached the Champions League final, losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain.

At the World Cup, Rice played every minute of England's run through the group stage, past the round of 32 and quarterfinals, into a semifinal defeat to Argentina, before England beat France 6-4 in the third-place playoff.

Rice plays the deep-lying midfield destroyer role — breaking up opposition attacks and recycling possession — but has added a genuine attacking dimension at Arsenal, delivering the corners and free kicks that were a defining weapon of their title season.

For England, Thomas Tuchel used him as the base of a midfield three, screening the back line while distributing quickly to more advanced attackers like Bellingham and Foden.

At 27, Rice arrived at the World Cup as one of England's senior on-field leaders despite his relative youth, having already lifted a Premier League title with Arsenal that same season.

England's semifinal exit followed by a bronze-medal win over France gave Rice and this England generation their best World Cup finish since 1966, ending 60 years without reaching the final four.