Declan Rice was released by Chelsea at 14 and nearly overlooked again at West Ham United.
Instead of sulking, Rice embraced what coaches called “clean feedback” and focused on improvement.
At West Ham, doubts over his awkward running style and long-term position persisted.
Coaches saw reliability and leadership, not a future world-class midfielder.
Rice’s willingness to learn accelerated his progress after his senior debut under Slaven Bilic.
He adapted tactically, moving from centre-back to defensive midfielder and later to a box-to-box role.
His £105m move to Arsenal brought scrutiny and criticism over goals.
Under Mikel Arteta, Rice responded by expanding his attacking impact and set-piece threat.
Standout performances, including against Real Madrid, elevated his global reputation.
Teammates and coaches now describe him as among the world’s best midfielders.
Rice’s leadership for club and England continues to grow.
Major trophies remain the final step toward genuine Ballon d’Or contention.
