Record-breaker Pickford finally getting his due? England's World Cup hero hits 18 appearances

Jordan Pickford is no longer just England's goalkeeper — he is now the nation's most decorated player in World Cup history. The 32-year-old Everton man will enter the history books when he lines up against Norway in the quarter-final in Miami. His 18th appearance in the tournament moves him past Peter Shilton, a record that had stood for decades. It comes on the back of a stunning individual display in the last 16, when England edged Mexico 3-2 in the Azteca. Pickford's milestone arrives on his 90th cap and his fifth major tournament as first choice. Since his debut against Germany at Wembley in November 2017, he has seen off every challenger. The numbers back up his status: 44 clean sheets in his 89 England appearances, just 59 goals conceded, and only two errors leading to goals according to Opta. In the Premier League, his consistency has been remarkable. Over the last two seasons, only David Raya (32) has more clean sheets than Pickford's 23 — and Raya plays for champions Arsenal. Pickford does it for a mid-table Everton side that has often been under pressure. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes Pickford has been undervalued. "I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he's posting," Robinson told sources. "He is only second behind David Raya in the last two seasons for clean sheets and they are playing for very different teams." Robinson added: "He's matured as a person and a professional. His distribution is second to none — England used it as a weapon in Mexico, and it led to a goal. There's nobody saying it shouldn't be him. The noise around the position hasn't been this quiet since David Seaman." Pickford has also made 14 European Championship appearances, reaching the final twice. Now, with a World Cup quarter-final against Erling Haaland's Norway awaiting, he has a chance to add another chapter — and perhaps finally silence the doubters for good.