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Where does Jordan Pickford stand among England’s all-time goalkeeping legends? Record-holder Peter Shilton has shared his thoughts on how the current No.1 compares with greats like Gordon Banks, David Seaman, and others.

England has been fortunate to boast a long line of exceptional goalkeepers over the decades—from Gordon Banks to David Seaman—but where does the present custodian, Jordan Pickford, fit among those illustrious names? In an exclusive conversation with GOAL, Peter Shilton, England’s record appearance-maker and one of football’s most iconic keepers, took on the challenge of answering that question.

Banks, Shilton, Seaman & Hart: Pickford carrying forward a proud tradition

Between 1970 and 1990, Shilton enjoyed a remarkable career that included winning two European Cups with Nottingham Forest and featuring in a World Cup semi-final. Over that period, he earned an incredible 125 caps for England, all while facing fierce competition for his spot from another legendary goalkeeper, Ray Clemence, who starred for Liverpool and Tottenham.

Before Shilton took command between the posts, Leicester City’s own Gordon Banks—capped 73 times—helped England achieve immortality by lifting the World Cup in 1966. Later, Arsenal’s title-winning keeper David Seaman emerged in the late 1980s, eventually handing the gloves down to the likes of David James and Joe Hart.

To date, no one has surpassed Shilton’s record of 125 England caps—though Harry Kane is tipped to do so eventually—and his impressive 66 international clean sheets look set to remain unmatched for years to come.

Where does Pickford rank among the greats of English goalkeeping?

When asked about Everton’s Jordan Pickford, who has already made 85 appearances for the national team, Shilton—speaking in association with Lynx Fine Fragrance and their ‘The Official Makeup’ campaign—told GOAL: “I think he's probably the best since I finished with England. If you look at his record—World Cup semi-finals, penalty saves—he’s done incredibly well, and there’s still a lot left in his career.”

He continued, “I think he's probably up there. I would put him up there as the best. Of course, David Seaman is very close, but overall, looking at the bigger picture, I’d say Jordan is the best since my time.”

Clean sheet chase: Can Pickford catch Shilton’s record?

At just 32 years old, Pickford still has time on his side and could set his sights on Shilton’s clean sheet record. When asked about the possibility of his record being challenged, Shilton, regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, responded: “I think some of the teams they face these days are what I’d call gimme matches or gimme clean sheets. We didn’t have too many of those!”

He added, “I’ve got a lot of respect for Jordan. I’ve watched him grow from a young lad. He’s matured well. I like how vocal he is—he shouts at his defenders, but you can also see him encouraging and taking responsibility. That’s an essential quality now.”

“You’ve got to play almost like an outfield player these days, and he’s excellent at pinging those 50-yard passes to strikers or midfielders. His accuracy is phenomenal—that’s one of his biggest strengths.”

“He also has a very strong penalty-saving record. These days, goalkeepers get a lot more data from coaches who study opponents’ penalty takers before matches. They often have lists of who takes them and where they usually aim. It’s very analytical now.”

“Similarly, even penalty takers rarely look nervous these days. They’re trained to stay composed—deep breaths, focus, confidence. That nervous ‘I hope I score’ mentality isn’t as common anymore. That’s one area where football has evolved, especially through coaching.”

Pickford and England will return to World Cup duty on Tuesday against Ghana in their second Group L match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Thomas Tuchel and his team will aim to maintain momentum after their 4-2 win over Croatia in their tournament opener.

The Official Makeup: Shilton revisits a memorable World Cup moment from 1986

Peter Shilton, who was part of one of football’s most debated incidents, has finally made peace with that moment. In a symbolic gesture arranged by Lynx Fine Fragrance, Shilton shook hands with a mascot representing that controversial event from the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The initiative, titled ‘The Official Makeup’, marks the first time Shilton has publicly moved past the controversy that has long lingered in football folklore.

The reconciliation took place at Chelmsford FC’s ground, near Shilton’s hometown. Lynx, the men’s fragrance brand, flew in their Argentinian mascot—featured in their sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup 2026™—to Chelmsford for this historic meeting. The final score: Shilton x Lynx 1, Grudges 0.