Wayne Rooney didn't hesitate when naming the greatest English player he's seen play live

Wayne Rooney was in no doubts when naming who he believes is England's greatest and 'most exciting' player of all time.

The former Manchester United and Everton star was England's leading goalscorer until 2023 when current captain Harry Kane broke the record with a goal against Italy.

Despite only winning one major tournament all the way back in 1966, England have been blessed with some incredible talents throughout the decades.

The likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Gordon Banks, and Bobby Moore have their historic World Cup win on their side when debating the nation's greatest, while Rooney, David Beckham, and Steven Gerrard's standout club careers make them a factor.

Speaking in 2015 Rooney settled the debate once and for all, and was in no doubts over which player was the country's greatest ever.

“He [Paul Gascoigne] was always someone that I looked up to, I still think to this day he is the greatest," Rooney said in the documentary, Gascoigne.

“You don’t shed tears on the football pitch if you don’t care about playing for your country.

“I would say that he is the most exciting English player I have seen and certainly the best," he added.

Gazza won 57 caps between 1988 and 1999 scoring 10 times for his country and becoming an icon of the national team for the tournaments he played in.

Paul Gascoigne for England in 1996- Getty

Rather unsurprisingly Gascoigne given his character, the former Newcastle star is in agreement with Rooney claiming 'no one is ever going to be as good as I was' back in 2009.

It's not just Rooney who holds Gascoigne in such a high regard, with former England striker Gary Lineker also heaping praise on Gazza.

“The most naturally gifted footballer England has produced," Lineker said via Planet Football.

“Part of his genius, part of his magnificence, is the fact that he was so vulnerable.

“Without that vulnerable side, without that carefree side, without all the things that come with Gazza, I don’t think Paul Gascoigne would have been the player that he was.”