AI names the 10 greatest England Lionesses in football history – no Alex Scott

AI names the 10 greatest England Lionesses in football history – no Alex Scott. Summary AI has named the 10 greatest Lionesses in football history. Only three stars of the 2025 Euros squad are included. The likes of Alex Scott and Mary Earps just miss out.

With the recent success of the England women’s team following Sarina Wiegman’s takeover as the Lionesses head coach, there has never been more interest or as many eyes on the defending 2022 European champions. Names like Alessia Russo, Lauren James and Ella Toone have not only become among the biggest in the squad, but have started to transcend the sport as a result of their incredible talent.

While their reputations and legacies are only going to grow in the coming years, according to AI, they are nowhere near the best to represent the Three Lions of all time, with just three of the squad taken to Switzerland for 2025 being considered good enough to be included in the 10 best in history in ChatGPT’s mind.

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Posts Honourable Mentions Close

Just missing out on the top 10 are some honourable mentions, starting with Mary Earps, who is widely considered to be the greatest shot-stopper women’s English football has ever seen. There is also no place for Alex Scott, who, after an incredible career for Arsenal and on the international stage, is now one of the faces of women’s football punditry.

Millie Bright was an incredible centre-piece at the heart of the England defence during their 2022 Euros success. And while former Manchester United manager Casey Stoney didn’t have the same level of success for the Lionesses as a player, she was still a leader and consummate professional who helped pave the way for the current crop of talent.

10 Karen Carney 144 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “Consistently delivered for over a decade, scoring in four major tournaments. Later became a vital ambassador for the game off the pitch. One of the game’s most trusted creative minds; helped bridge the early years with the current era.”

Now one of the most recognisable pundits and voices in British football, it all started for Karen Carney as a player for the likes of Arsenal, Birmingham and Chelsea. The midfielder won the FA Women’s Premier League National Division (now the WSL) three times, as well as the FA Cup on the same number of occasions and the women’s UEFA Cup once. With 144 caps, she has made the third-highest number of appearances for the Lionesses.

9 Rachel Yankey 129 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “England’s first female centurion and one of the earliest visible stars. Technical, pacy winger who gave England width and professionalism. A true pioneer, helping normalize women’s football in the UK long before it was popular.”

Nowadays, it’s hard to be the first to do anything. It feels as though everything has already been accomplished at least once. But no one will ever take away the fact that Rachel Yankey was the first ever woman to reach 120 caps in the famous white of England – though not the first to reach 100, as the AI mistakenly claims. Nevertheless, Yankey thrived for Arsenal and was one of the first high-profile women’s players from the British Isles to make a splash in the United States, where the women’s game was more popular.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Gill Coultard was the first English player to reach 100 caps for the women’s team, doing so in 1997.

8 Jill Scott 161 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “Not just longevity – her influence as a leader and “glue player” made her central in 10 major tournaments. Big-game engine. Embodied team spirit and transition from amateur era to global stage.”

Another figure who has grown immensely in popularity post-retirement, Jill Scott has really seen it all. From playing at a time where being a professional in the women’s game was almost impossible, to finally getting her hands on major silverware for her country in her last international tournament, it was the perfect end to Scott’s career as she retired on top of the mountain and as the player with the second-most international caps.

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Posts 1 7 Beth Mead 73 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot winner at Euro 2022 – the best individual tournament in Lionesses history. Symbol of England’s attacking evolution and resurgence under Sarina Wiegman.”

Here is a list of England players that have been officially recognised as the best player at any major tournament: Beth Mead. That’s it. The Arsenal star is the one player on that list, standing alone as her six goals at Euro 2022 fired England to glory for the first time in their history. While she may not have the most caps and has even struggled to maintain a place in the starting XI of late, that impact in a tournament cemented in history is worthy of a place in this top 10.

6 Steph Houghton 121 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “Captain through the most transformative period of the team’s history. Balanced leadership, elite defending, and set-piece threat. Guided England through a cultural and tactical evolution; a role model for many young players.”

If there was a player who truly deserved to be part of the successful European Championships in 2022 but wasn’t, it was Steph Houghton. The defender was a lynchpin and a true leader for the Lionesses. Her final England appearance came in 2021, meaning she agonisingly missed out on being involved. Yet, her spirit was no doubt felt, as the former captain of the Team GB women’s football team was a key part of ushering in the golden generation that took the mantle from her.

5 Fara Williams 172 international caps

What ChatGPT: “England’s most-capped player and a midfield mainstay through multiple generations. Her resilience off the pitch made her an icon of determination. A foundational figure in England’s rise; her penalty against Germany in 2015 sealed their first-ever win over them in a major tournament.”

You don’t become your country’s most capped player in history without being special. And that is absolutely the case for Fara Williams. 172 and out is an incredible number, and it is packed with memorable moments, including being part of the England side that missed out on Euro 2009 glory and scoring the winning goal in the World Cup third-place play-off against Germany in 2015.

4 Ellen White 113 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “England’s all-time top scorer, and clutch performer in major tournaments. Her consistency and work rate embodied the Lionesses’ transition into a top-tier side. Cult hero and dependable goal machine; elevated her game on the biggest stages.”

One word defines Ellen White: goals. If you want to add a second, it can be galore. The Lionesses’ all-time leading scorer with 52 goals – the only one to have surpassed a half-century – was a true poacher and knew exactly where the net was. Like Scott earlier, she too retired after finally helping England win a major tournament, one in which she bagged two goals, both in an 8-0 drubbing of Norway – the largest win in Euros history.

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Posts 3 Leah Williamson 63 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “Captained England to their first-ever major trophy – Euro 2022 – with composure and leadership well beyond her years. Instantly immortalized for lifting the trophy at Wembley; voice for equality and a natural successor to Steph Houghton.”

There were some massive shoes for Leah Williamson to fill, not only in the heart of defence but also in replacing Steph Houghton as England captain. And yet, she became the first person since Bobby Moore to lift a trophy for her country in 2022. At 28, there is still time for her to develop into something even greater and more mythical. A second major tournament triumph as captain may just cement her as the greatest ever – and certainly the premier skipper.

2 Lucy Bronze 139 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “One of the world’s best full-backs for nearly a decade. Influential in three consecutive World Cup semi-finals and a dominant force at Euro 2022. Raised the global profile of the Lionesses and helped define England’s modern identity – athletic, fearless, and elite.”

No English player has ever won the Women’s Ballon d’Or, but one of the closest to ever do so was Lucy Bronze. The veteran full-back is still a mainstay in the squad six years on from finishing runner-up to Megan Rapinoe in 2019. The full-back is about as iconic as it gets in the Lionesses camp, mixing the incredible talent that a modern-day right-back needs with the grit and determination that is almost symbolic of the struggles the women’s game has forced upon those rising to the top.

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Posts 1 Kelly Smith 117 international caps

What ChatGPT said: “England’s most technically gifted player and a genuine global star long before the Lionesses became mainstream. She often carried the team singlehandedly, especially in the 2007 World Cup and Euro 2009. Opened the door for the next generation, inspired countless girls, and elevated the expectations for the national team.”

The original face of the women’s game on these shores. Before Bronze, Williamson and Houghton, there was Kelly Smith. Smith was a striker often in a class of her own, and prior to White beating her record, was the country’s leading scorer. England’s run to the Euro 2009 final was largely down to her and the three goals she scored that tournament, which was the second-best. She was the first player in the 21st century to garner a profile that could arguably be considered as big as some of the male players, and without her influence, we may not see the current squad flourishing as it is.

All statistics courtesy of the England National Team – accurate as of 25/07/2025.