Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the standout performers in England's World Cup campaign, with his displays described as mesmerising even by his own lofty standards. The Real Madrid midfielder has scored four goals and provided an excellent assist for Harry Kane in the 2-0 win over Panama, leading England's supporters to serenade the 23-year-old. His performances have made it seem ludicrous that there was ever a debate about whether he would be in the team. BBC Sport charts Bellingham's rise from his debut for hometown club Birmingham City at 16 years and 38 days, where he became the club's youngest ever player. A Premier League scouting report from that game noted his "great athleticism, long legs, graceful running and work-rate" as well as his technical ability to carry the ball away from pressure. Within a year, he moved to Borussia Dortmund for £20.7m, with Birmingham retiring his number 22 shirt. Bellingham was fast-tracked into the senior England squad by then-manager Gareth Southgate, making his debut in November 2020. After being carefully managed at Euro 2020, where he made only three substitute appearances, he became a key player by Euro 2024. His first senior international goal came in the 6-2 win over Iran at the 2022 World Cup, and he has since added nine more goals to his tally.
AI-Powered News Curation