Raheem Sterling stole the show against Spain in Seville eight years ago, but after leaving Manchester City four years later his career entered a state of lasting decline

Incredibly, Raheem Sterling went to Seville on the back of a three-year goal drought for England.

Then Sterling scored twice in the space of 22 minutes as England beat Spain 3-2 in the Nations League what was a first half masterclass and one of their best performances under Gareth Southgate.

It was October 15, 2018, and is still remembered as arguably Sterling’s best performance in an England shirt. Marcus Rashford was also on target and Harry Kane was up front. It was England’s last win over the current world champions.

England were exceptional and Sterling was at the peak of his powers. There was, of course, more highs to follow for both club and country.

Sterling won trophies galore with Manchester City, was England’s best player in the Euros back in 2021 and people are quick to forget just what a special player he was at his best. Quick, dazzling, skillful, close control and dynamic.

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Sadly, Sterling’s career went downhill fast after his £50m move to Chelsea in 2022 - and it has been in decline ever since.

That was the turning point for Sterling who is still only 31, is 16 months younger than England captain Kane and yet now finds himself without a club and in limbo.

His low point came in May when he was arrested and then later plead guilty to dangerous driving and possessing nitrous oxide.

Now he crops up on social media with posts about the Raheem Sterling Foundation and The Football Cage project which helps kids play like he used to as a kid.

Sterling clearly enjoys helping under-privileged kids, some of whom have the same sort of tough upbringing like he did in the shadow of Wembley before he moved up to Liverpool as a teenage sensation.

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But what gets forgotten about Sterling behind his driven mindset and footballing brain which took him to the top is that he is also a sensitive soul and there’s a touch of shyness.

This is a player who was also always in the spotlight but became a powerful voice on racism in football and a hugely respected figure within the game.

And like many other players, criticism really hurt him and from the highs of successes with City - he was a driving force in their 2019 domestic Treble - then came the lows at Chelsea.

Sterling was 27 when he left City for Chelsea in the summer of 2022. Thomas Tuchel was in charge and the club sold him a dream.

There was actually a contract on the table at City and he could have stayed in his comfort zone by signing new terms. But Pep Guardiola warned him there might be less playing time. He chose Chelsea.

For the first two years, it was OK. No more. Tuchel went, Sterling went to the 2022 World Cup where the last of his 82 caps came and yet that tournament was overshadowed for him by a break-in at home and he jetted back to be with his family before returning to Qatar.

But by the summer of 2024, Chelsea completely dropped him. They made it clear he was no longer in their plans, he could go and that sudden change was a massive blow for him.

An unhappy year at Arsenal followed where Mikel Arteta probably failed to deliver on game-time and, having been such a key player for England, he was dropped like a stone by Gareth Southgate.

From being a massive star to being forgotten is hard for anyone to imagine. Suddenly Sterling found himself out in the cold and that is when Feyenoord signed him in February 2026. Robin van Persie actually offered him a multi-year contract but Sterling wanted to prove himself.

There was a certain symmetry with England’s game in Madrid this weekend. They play Spain on the back of a game with Croatia. They drew 0-0 in Rijeka and flew to Spain.

Sterling was quite reluctant to do interviews back then. A bit nervous about the press. But I did speak to him after that game in Croatia and I always respected him (and still do).

He was talking about ending that goal drought in Spain. “The main thing now is to keep trying to be a goal threat,” he said.

“When I was a bit younger, I wasn’t too interested in scoring goals, I was all about trying to look nice and show people I’ve got a lot of ability. I think I’m probably more driven now to be able to get on the end of things, being in the box a lot more.

“Before, I was going wide, trying to beat a player and now I’m trying to get on the end of stuff, being around for scraps and trying to make goals for myself.

“I’m much more confident when I’m in and around the penalty area now so I feel the goals will come for England as they have been doing for City.”

Back then, ahead of arguably his best game in an England shirt, there were only dreams and targets. And it’s worth remembering that, before the crash, he achieved almost all of them.