Jude Bellingham leads England’s Croatia rout and strengthens claims for captaincy

Jude Bellingham scored once and created three goals as England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, delivering one of his most complete performances for the national team and wearing the captain’s armband in the closing stages.

The Real Madrid midfielder took over as captain after Harry Kane was substituted with 20 minutes remaining, underlining the growing leadership role he has assumed despite being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in October 2025.

At that time, Bellingham’s prospects of appearing at the World Cup were uncertain, with Tuchel making clear he would not receive special treatment because of his status as a high-profile player. He quickly changed that situation, earning selection for the tournament, finishing as England’s leading scorer with seven goals and helping them reach the semi-finals before ending the competition in third place.

His display against Croatia suggested he is now moving beyond being regarded simply as a world-class player. Bellingham became the first England player to provide three assists in a match since Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino in November 2021. It was also the first time he had been directly involved in more than two goals in a single appearance for England.

Roy Keane, the former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder, believes Bellingham could eventually rank among football’s greatest players.

“Bellingham can become one of the greatest players of all time,” Keane told ITV. “He is an incredible footballer at the moment and has the complete package: power in his running, accuracy in his passing and the ability to threaten the goal. As he develops, I think we will see more and more from him in the future.”

Former England defender Matthew Upson said Bellingham had become the ideal option to play as the team’s number 10 in the years ahead.

Keane also highlighted the player’s contribution when he does not have possession. While describing Bellingham as “brilliant on the ball”, he said his movement and commitment without it raised the level of those around him. Having a player of his stature, performing for Real Madrid, also gave the rest of the team extra encouragement.

Former England striker Ian Wright praised Bellingham’s physical and attacking qualities, saying he repeatedly drove forward and looked to enter the penalty area. “He was involved in everything,” Wright said, pointing to his athleticism, technical ability and constant movement into positions that are difficult for defenders to track.

England’s attacking players shared the goals, with Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice each, while Anthony Gordon scored once and created another. Kane’s second goal was his 89th for England before he handed over the armband to Bellingham.

Tuchel said Bellingham had reached a new stage in his development. “You cannot stop at a certain level; you have to develop and aim for the next one, otherwise other teams will catch and overtake you,” he said. He added that England had adjusted responsibilities after their World Cup disappointment, giving players including Bellingham greater authority.

Saka, whose first goal came from a precise Bellingham cross, said: “He was amazing. He deserved player of the year and he deserved to be man of the match. He gave an exceptional performance. I am happy to play alongside him and happy to have him in the England team.”