Jude Bellingham has never been an English footballer quite like any before him. He possesses the cockiness and explosiveness of a teenage Wayne Rooney and the vision of Paul Scholes, but that description barely scratches the surface. Bellingham, at 23, has endless layers: he can play as a No. 8, No. 9, or No. 10, with the flair of Glenn Hoddle and the bravado of Paul Gascoigne, but also the bravery of Bryan Robson and the rampaging qualities of Steven Gerrard. As Mexico discovered at the Estadio Azteca, he can even morph into the world’s best defender with a goal-saving challenge.
Bellingham’s Remarkable Rise
Bellingham made his debut for Birmingham City at 16 and was so impressive that the club retired his shirt number. He scored on his tournament debut for England against Iran at the 2022 World Cup, became a European champion with Real Madrid, and has since accumulated four goals in five games at the 2026 World Cup. His precociousness often makes him seem wise beyond his years, but it has also led to sky-high expectations.
At Euro 2024, Bellingham thundered in a header against Serbia but struggled with consistency. His iconic overhead kick against Slovakia came at the end of an otherwise poor performance, and he often appeared frustrated on the pitch. Yet, he was only 20 at the time—a kid with the world at his feet. The contradictions in his character puzzled outsiders: he oozes intelligence in interviews with English broadcasters, offering razor-sharp tactical analysis, yet remains distant from mainstream written media and spent much of his career outside England.
Ego and Team Spirit
Thomas Tuchel’s infamous “repulsive” comment last year fueled a PR crisis, but Bellingham’s ego is part of what makes him special. According to multiple sources, including Jordan Henderson, Bellingham is a great kid who excels when meeting young fans. However, his enormous will to win sometimes boils over, as seen when England trailed 1-0 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 32. Bellingham does not do stoicism; he is a massive patriot who comes across as un-English in his intense desire to win and his embrace of adversity.
Watching Bellingham, one sees someone with zero interest in pretending he is anything other than a genius. The athlete he most resembles is Novak Djokovic—smiling and charming, but capable of turning into a pantomime villain or unstoppable force when confronted with doubters. That Djokovic streak was evident when Bellingham relished walking into the Azteca bearpit against Mexico in the last 16, scoring two goals and standing with arms outstretched, feeding off the crowd’s animosity.
World Cup Heroics
Bellingham has been in storming form since the first game of the 2026 World Cup, sparking a surge against Croatia with a spectacular solo goal. Against Mexico, he scored twice—a header from a Bukayo Saka cross and a silky one-two with Harry Kane—but also made a heroic clearance to stop César Montes from equalizing on the stroke of half-time. He has made vital last-ditch challenges against Croatia and Ghana, and has been a galvanizing force, giving Djed Spence a pep talk after the full-back’s impressive cameo.
Tuchel has found the way forward with Bellingham, giving him clarity and understanding his rare talent. The pre-tournament notion that Bellingham might not be a starter now looks ridiculous. He does it all for the team, despite occasional toddler-like tantrums when losing possession. As England prepares to face Norway on Saturday, Bellingham remains one of the most captivating players to wear an England shirt.
