​He has long stood as England’s undisputed number one for nearly ten years, but a fresh fan poll has finally weighed in on how the public perceives Jordan Pickford. Pickford has officially entered the history books by matching Peter Shilton’s record of 17 World Cup appearances during England’s win over Mexico. Despite a career marred by relentless online scrutiny, the Everton goalkeeper continues to be Thomas Tuchel’s unequivocal first choice, proving that consistency can outlast critics. And there’s more to come: if he starts against Norway as expected, Pickford will become England’s all-time World Cup appearances leader.
England have conceded five goals in five games at the 2026 World Cup so far, and Pickford faced criticism for a near-post goal from DR Congo. Reaching a shared historic milestone has reignited the debate over whether Pickford’s current run of form eclipses the legacies of England greats like Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton.
Fans have been casting their votes in a Sky Sports poll, and the results are revealing. England supporters have ranked Pickford as the Three Lions’ second-best ever goalkeeper, giving him 32% of the vote, placing him above Shilton but behind Gordon Banks, who leads with 54%. Banks possesses the 1966 World Cup trophy, while Shilton tallies an impressive 125 international caps, yet Pickford’s influence and contributions to England’s side should not be underestimated.
Another poll was posted on X asking, “Would a World Cup win make Pickford England’s best ever keeper?” As this is written, the tally sits at 59.5% yes and 40.5% no.
Read more: for better SEO. minimum 500 words.