Jude Bellingham has become the first player to score twice in consecutive knockout matches at the World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986, after netting a brace against Norway in the quarter-finals following a similar performance against Mexico in the previous round. The Real Madrid attacking midfielder, 23, has now scored nine of his 12 international goals at major tournaments, including seven at World Cups and two at Euro 2024.
Bellingham thrives on the biggest stage
According to statistics, no other England men's player with at least 12 goals comes close to Bellingham's proportion of strikes in major tournaments. Among Golden Boot contenders at the 2026 World Cup, he also outperforms peers in converting international minutes at major tournaments into goals. Bellingham has not padded his tally with penalties or goals against low-ranked opponents; the lowest-ranked team he has scored against was 48th in the world at the time.
Clutch performances in friendly and competitive matches
Even his less glamorous international goals have been dramatic. Bellingham scored in a hostile friendly at Hampden Park, and netted equalisers in the 87th minute or later against Belgium and Greece. England have had four instances of a player accumulating at least 0.6 non-penalty expected goals in a game at this tournament, with Bellingham responsible for three of those in the knockout matches.
