In the early 1960s, Banks had ups and downs in Leicester, but in the' 66 World Cup, Banks showed extraordinary talent and stability in front of the goal. He didn't concede a goal in the first four games, until Sebbio's penalty kick broke the city gate in the semi-final. In the final, although the cooperation between Banks and Jack Charlton led to a goal not being scored, the teammates' efforts finally left the Golden Cup in England.
After winning the World Cup, because the young goalkeeper Hilton stood out in the club team, Banks chose to switch to the Stoke City team and kept his position as the main goalkeeper of the national team. Four years later, in the group match between England and Brazil, although Brazil won by one goal in the end, Banks became the protagonist of the game. He jumped sideways with a strong header against Pele and was praised as the best save in history. England, as the defending champion, failed to go any further in this competition. In the knockout stage, they lost 2-3 to the Federal Republic of Germany. In that game, Banks' absence due to injury was also regarded as one of the biggest reasons for England's failure. According to his own memory, when he missed the game, he saw the team leading 2-0 at the hotel, and he thought the overall situation was set. He actually fell asleep while watching the ball in bed, and only when he woke up did he know that England had been overturned.
1972 10, Banks, who played 73 games for the England national team, was accidentally involved in a car accident, which made him blind in one eye and forced a generation of legendary goalkeepers to bid farewell to the game.