Roy Keane says Jude Bellingham can become one of football’s greatest ever players

Roy Keane believes Jude Bellingham has the ability to become one of the greatest players in football history, after the Real Madrid midfielder helped England beat Croatia 7-0.

The former Manchester United captain made the bold assessment during ITV’s coverage of the emphatic victory, while highlighting the qualities that have set Bellingham apart at international and club level.

Keane said Bellingham had all the attributes required to reach the very highest level, although he stressed that the 22-year-old would first need to avoid serious injuries and maintain his mental balance throughout his career.

Bellingham played a central role in England’s outstanding performance against Croatia. He scored once and also supplied three assists, making him one of the most influential players in a result that underlined his importance to the team.

However, Keane’s praise was not based solely on the midfielder’s attacking statistics. He also pointed to Bellingham’s movement without the ball, his ability to identify and exploit space, and the work he does to support his team-mates.

Keane added that Bellingham was increasingly showing leadership qualities on the pitch, despite his young age.

When Keane suggested that Bellingham could eventually be regarded among the greatest players of all time, ITV presenter Mark Pougatch appeared surprised by the scale of the claim.

“Really? Over the course of history?” Pougatch asked, indicating that Keane was discussing more than Bellingham’s status as one of the leading players of his generation.

Ian Wright backed Keane’s view, agreeing that Bellingham already possessed the potential to reach an exceptional level if he continued to develop in the same way.

The latest praise follows a series of significant endorsements for Bellingham since the beginning of his European career. He first attracted widespread attention during his time with Borussia Dortmund before continuing to impress for England, particularly at the World Cup 2022.

Bellingham has since been compared with several England midfield greats, including Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes.

Those comparisons reflect his ability to combine goalscoring and creativity with physical strength and influence across different areas of the pitch. Against Croatia, he demonstrated each of those qualities, contributing directly to the scoreline while also offering energy, movement and authority throughout the match.

Keane’s comments nevertheless placed Bellingham in a category beyond comparisons with his predecessors, suggesting that his long-term potential could extend to the highest level football has seen.