Watching Jude Bellingham at this World Cup has been to witness that rare moment when a player begins to go from good to great.Against Croatia, it was the galloping run through opposition territory to score England’s third. Against Panama, it was sticking out a clever leg for the first goal, and chipping the left-footed cross for the second.And against Mexico, well, take your pick.The diving header for the first goal? The relentlessness to sweep in a second a minute later? The vital tackle at the far post when England were wobbling? The spin and run through the middle of the pitch on the counter? Or just the remarkable physical commitment of it all, the insistence on pushing and pushing and pushing himself to the limit in pursuit of his prize? No wonder Bellingham looked so physically and emotionally spent at the end.There is something thrilling about watching Bellingham in this mood, a growing sense that he will insist on determining the outcome of this competition, in the same way that Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will see that as their right. The days when his place in the starting XI was being openly questioned — former England striker Alan Shearer, for one, thought Morgan Rogers should start ahead of him for the opening game against Croatia — seem very long ago.But there has been another visible side to Bellingham at this World Cup. Comforting and swapping shirts with Mexican teenager Gilberto Mora in the tunnel after the game on Sunday night. Stopping to speak to a reporter from Venezuela to offer words of encouragement in Spanish. Giving a touching interview about how much his late grandfather meant to him, and the patriotism he inspired in a young Jude.pic.twitter.com/9yNn9zL2M3— ۟ (@rebootjays) July 7, 2026Put it all together, and Bellingham has, at least from the outside, appeared more confident and at home this tournament than ever before. He has earned the nickname ‘Unc’ from his close friends in camp, Rogers and Jordan Henderson, in a jokey reference to his seniority (despite only turning 23 last week), and has introduced a new card game, Skyjo, to the squad to help wile away the hours at their Kansas City training base. Bellingham still does not do all the media commitments that some of his team-mates do. He arrived late for a FIFA commitment when England were in Florida after doing an extra gym session, but apologised profusely for keeping the cameraman waiting.But when Bellingham does talk, he is more open and not as defensive as he was in Euro 2024. After his famous overhead kick equaliser against Slovakia, he used a press conference to rail against the “rubbish” and the “pile-on” of criticism England had faced for their performances. There were moments during that campaign when Bellingham did not look especially happy, on or off the pitch.But we must remember that Bellingham only turned 21 during that Euros. And it is the unfortunate obligation of brilliant young footballers to grow up in public. It might be that Bellingham is now just more relaxed, more at ease — perhaps even more mature — at this World Cup than he has been in the past.