AUGUSTA, MAINE – Jude Bellingham is now second for non-penalty major tournament goals in the history of the England national team. No England player has ever scored more goals than him at a single World Cup or European Championship. Bellingham is also the second-youngest appearance maker for England at this World Cup. Read that last one again. This does not make sense.
Every major tournament goal is momentous, but even so: Bellingham scored England’s first goal in Qatar and their first in Germany. He has scored 90th-minute equalisers, opening goals and game changers. He has scored twice in two minutes. He has carried an entire team on his back during this tournament. Harry Kane has the same number of goals, but for impact there is no fair fight.
Herein lies the great irony. They accused Bellingham of being arrogant. They said that his demand to be the protagonist, his main character energy, was in danger of dragging England down. Now that is exactly what they must celebrate him for being and doing. Bellingham has been named Man of the Match in four of England’s six games. He is the literal main character.
He gets frustrated because he wants to win? Fine by me – I want that too. He throws up his arms in frustration when things aren’t going his way? I’d rather my footballers looked like they care than the opposite. He demands perfection from teammates? Great, if he demands it from himself too (and he does). We have a World Cup to win. This isn’t a school sports day.
