Former England defender Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Manchester City's Raheem Sterling following his performances at Euro 2020 this summer.
The 26-year-old has netted three times for Gareth Southgate's side this summer, and won the penalty which led to Harry Kane's winning goal against Denmark to send England to their first final at a major international tournament for 55 years.
England will face Italy in the final at Wembley on Sunday, and both Kane and Sterling are in with a chance of claiming personal awards as the Golden Boot is in sight.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Carragher was full of praise for Sterling: "I said this after the group games, I think Raheem Sterling has been England's best player by a long way.
"There was a lot of talk going into the competition that his position in the team was up for grabs, which I couldn't understand because he has been outstanding for Gareth Southgate since the World Cup, over a two or three-year period.
"And especially the way Harry Kane is playing, coming deeper for the ball and trying to get on the ball, you have to have people making runs in behind and having pace in behind.
"I think before this tournament started, the two first names on the team sheet, if everyone was fit, would be Harry Kane and Harry Maguire - but now it has to be Raheem Sterling joining those two."
Carragher went on to back Sterling for the Player of the Tournament award, adding: "Normally the player of the tournament does come from the nation who won the tournament, but not all the time.
"Italy will have a few shouts, the left-back Leonardo Spinazzola who is unfortunately not going to play in the final [due to injury] and Federico Chiesa has come in and done a great job. The two centre-backs as well.
"It's not just Raheem Sterling in the England team - I think Harry Maguire has had a huge influence since he came back in, Harry Kane is now getting back to what we expect from him in terms of goals and performances. But I think Raheem Sterling, at this moment, has it to lose, shall we say."
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has already won the Golden Gloves having kept five clean sheets in his first five Euro games.
Sammy Wynne
