Raheem Sterling is the most important footballer in England. This is not to suggest that Sterling is necessarily the best, of course, and if the nation’s dressing rooms, press boxes and terraces were polled on their player-of-the-year nominations then strong cases would be advanced for the admirable Bernardo Silva, Sergio Agüero, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Matt Doherty and Son Heung-min, also Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Eden Hazard and Declan Rice. But for sheer importance to the game, on and off the field, to club and country, and society in general, then Sterling is the main man for all reasons.

After 351 games and 86 goals, the Manchester City and England winger really should be properly appreciated, not simply by those who congregate at matches