Harry Maguire must go to the World Cup as his latest admission proves why the Man Utd star is a national hero - analysis by Ed Griffiths

Ed Griffiths
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:08:54 +0000

Harry Maguire has long been a figure to divide England and Manchester United fans with the turbulent periods he has endured at Old Trafford.

Since joining Manchester United in 2019 for a then-record £80million for a defender, performances have been mixed.

While he has often remained a key figure for England, his club career has been characterised by intense scrutiny under several different managers.

After being named captain just five months after his arrival, Maguire faced immense pressure and following the arrival of Erik ten Hag, his form dipped, he fell out of favour, and was officially stripped of the club captaincy in July 2023.

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With the World Cup looming and the Three Lions' staple defender seemingly back at his best, England fans remain divided over whether Thomas Tuchel should take, or even start, the 33-year-old.

Despite some doubt, Maguire maintains unwavering confidence in his abilities.

The defender, speaking to journalists at Manchester United's training camp in Ireland, said: "I still believe, even at my age, I'm arguably one of the best defenders in the world in both boxes."

Following confirmation of his new contract extension this week, Maguire reflected on his seven seasons with the club and argued that six of those campaigns were successful, expressing frustration that his career is often framed as a redemption narrative rather than one of sustained performance.

He said: "I'd have loved seven out of seven, and not had this little blip along the way and everyone won't be speaking about it as much."

The England centre-back is eager to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for this summer's World Cup, which would mark his third appearance at the tournament.

However, the new England manager has made clear that Maguire currently sits fifth in the defensive hierarchy, behind Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones and the injured Trevoh Chalobah.

Maguire continued: "I'm desperate to go, whatever role the manager would want me for, whether that's starting or whether it's deciding games late on."

Tuchel could be taking a huge risk not involving the Manchester United man partly due to his goal threat.

Maguire holds the record for the all-time highest-scoring defender for the England national team, having scored 7 goals in 66 caps.

His international fortunes have improved recently, with a call-up in March ending an 18-month absence from the national setup.

He played the full match against Uruguay before appearing as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Japan.

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Maguire acknowledged that the intense criticism and ridicule he faced during his difficult spell would have defeated most footballers.

When asked directly whether his experiences might have broken other players, he responded: "Yeah, probably. There'll be a lot who want to maybe just close the book and just go elsewhere and restart their career. I think it's probably broken them a little bit earlier."

The defender has witnessed teammates struggle under the weight of expectation at Old Trafford.

He explained: "I see a lot of players come into this club and quite frankly it's just too big for them. The eyes on you, the scrutiny, the analysis. Every goal that goes in, it's someone's fault."

His resurgence under Michael Carrick since mid-January has helped United climb to third place in the league.

His darkest moment came at Hampden Park in September 2023, when Scotland supporters greeted his introduction as a substitute with mocking cheers, which, despite his decent performance, led to a deflected Andy Robertson cross into his own net, compounding the humiliation during England's 3-1 victory.

Maguire said: "That was probably the lowest point, but it's part of the journey."

His mother Zoe felt compelled to defend her son on social media, describing the treatment as "disgraceful and unacceptable".

Maguire attempted to dissuade her but was overruled: "I didn't want her to, but she just said, 'I'm doing it! I'm not listening to you!'"

But it is this optimism and pride in representing the national team that make Maguire an unsung hero.

Many of the Three Lions have fallen out of world-class status, and Tuchel faces a real problem with individuals dipping in confidence.

But the Manchester United star is not one of them. He believes he is amongst the best in the world, and that is exactly what we need heading into the 2026 World Cup across the Atlantic.