Declan Rice has become one of the most recognisable figures in English football, but his success has also brought greater scrutiny both on and off the pitch.

While his performances for Arsenal and England have brought widespread praise, the midfielder has also experienced the less positive side of life as a high-profile footballer.

In a new interview with GQ Magazine, Rice has opened up about the impact of online criticism, why he walked away from X and the mentality that allows him to keep moving forward when faced with negativity.

Why Declan Rice walked away from X

Speaking to GQ for its 2026 Men of the Year issue, Rice revealed that he left X, formerly Twitter, three years ago and has not returned since.

The 27-year-old explained that reading negative comments can affect his mood, even when everything else in his life is going well.

"You could be having a great morning. You read one thing, and it just ruins your whole day," Rice said.

He believes his ability to shut out that negativity is one of his strongest qualities, rather than allowing online opinions to dictate how he feels.

"I feel like that’s one of my strongest points... the ability to block out noise and not deal with that kind of stuff."

Rice and those close to him have also been subjected to online abuse, with his partner, Lauren Fryer, previously targeted over her appearance.

The midfielder has previously spoken about the importance of keeping his attention on football, rather than becoming consumed by what is being said about him online.

"I just keep my head down, keep going, and everything else is just noise," he added.

How rejection shaped Declan Rice's mentality

Rice's approach to online criticism is part of a wider mentality that has helped him navigate the difficult moments of his career.

Released by Chelsea at the age of 14, Rice joined West Ham and worked his way through the club's academy before breaking into the first team.

His early Premier League career was not without setbacks. After being substituted at half-time in West Ham's 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the 2018-19 season, Rice began to question whether he was ready for the demands of the Premier League.

After being dropped, Rice even asked manager Manuel Pellegrini for permission to leave on loan. Pellegrini refused, and the midfielder returned to the starting line-up against Everton, helping West Ham secure a 3-1 victory.

Those experiences helped shape the determination he still carries today.

Rice accepts criticism when his performances fall below his own standards, but refuses to let outside opinions undermine his confidence.

"If you think I’m good, good. If you think I’m sh*t, all right. But eventually I’ll prove you wrong," he said.

The midfielder also believes consistency is one of the most difficult demands of professional football, regardless of how much success a player has already enjoyed.

"The hardest thing in football is to be consistent. Be there every year. Show up. Prove your worth every week."

That mindset has remained important even as Rice has established himself as one of Arsenal's most important players.

Rather than becoming satisfied with what he has already accomplished, Rice continues to look for ways to improve, taking Mikel Arteta's feedback on board and maintaining the standards expected of an Arsenal regular.

For Rice, the noise around him is unlikely to disappear. His priority is ensuring it never distracts him from the standards and ambitions he has set for himself.