Jude Bellingham Fuels England’s World Cup Dream with Dominant Performances
Jude Bellingham has carried England through the altitude of Mexico City and the intense heat of Miami on a personal mission to end a 60-year wait for a World Cup title.
The World Cup often turns into a stage for one player’s destiny, creating an unstoppable momentum toward the sport’s greatest prize. History provides clear examples: Diego Maradona with Argentina in 1986, Ronaldo’s redemption with Brazil in 2002, and Lionel Messi’s triumphant campaign with Argentina in 2022.
While Bellingham’s two goals helped England overcome Norway in the Miami heat, the midfielder still has work to do to reach the status of those icons. Significant challenges remain, starting with a semi-final clash against Lionel Messi and Argentina in Atlanta. Should England advance, they face the potential final hurdle of Spain or a brilliant France side led by Kylian Mbappe, as they attempt to end a drought dating back to July 30, 1966.
Despite these hurdles, world-class players often find the willpower to shape the tournament. Bellingham is doing exactly that, stringing together a series of magnificent displays.
Bellingham equals World Cup greats
While it remains premature to place Bellingham in the same stratosphere as Pele or Maradona, his performances against Mexico and Norway invite flattering statistical comparisons.
Bellingham is the first player since Maradona in 1986 to score two or more goals in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup. At 23, he is the second-youngest player to achieve this, behind only Pele, who set the mark at 17 in 1958.
Bellingham’s match-winning display won the approval of Norway’s master striker Erling Haaland, also a former colleague at Borussia Dortmund. [Getty Images]
Bellingham now wears the famous number “10” jersey with distinction for England. His influence against Norway was clear: he led his team in shots (5), touches in the opposition box (6), duels won (8), and fouls won (4).
Bellingham England’s game changer
Bellingham famously asked “Who Else?” after his 94th-minute overhead kick saved England against Slovakia at Euro 2024. He could easily repeat that sentiment after his recent double-goal performances in Mexico City and Miami.
Of his 12 England goals, nine have occurred in major tournaments. Only Gary Lineker, who scored six non-penalty goals in 1986, has matched Bellingham’s current tournament output. Furthermore, Bellingham displays remarkable versatility; like Erling Haaland, he is capable of scoring with his left foot, right foot, and head.
Bellingham on course to join greats
Bellingham appears to be on his own redemption arc following England’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Despite battling shoulder and hamstring injuries at Real Madrid and facing competition from Morgan Rogers for a starting spot, head coach Thomas Tuchel trusted Bellingham’s big-game pedigree.
Lionel Messi finally got his hands on the World Cup after Argentina beat France on penalties in Qatar in 2022. [Getty Images]
Messi next in titanic World Cup clash
The 39-year-old Lionel Messi remains Argentina’s primary inspiration, entering the semi-final with eight goals to his name in this tournament. However, England believes they possess their own powerhouse in Bellingham.
The upcoming battle between these two number 10s will likely determine who advances to the World Cup final. Bellingham’s irreplaceable influence makes him the central figure in England’s pursuit of glory ahead of Wednesday’s showdown in Atlanta.