England’s campaign in the World Cup has quickly turned into a showcase for Jude Bellingham. The 23-year-old forward netted two goals to defeat Norway on Saturday, following a similar performance against Mexico in the previous round. Bellingham clearly excels when the stakes are high.
We are witnessing an unprecedented era of goal scoring in the World Cup, bolstered by the tournament’s expansion. The all-time leading scorers, Lionel Messi (21 goals) and Kylian Mbappé (20 goals), are both active in the 2026 edition, with Harry Kane (14) also making the top six. Erling Haaland had an impressive seven goals in just five matches this summer, suggesting he could also rise in the rankings as his career progresses.
However, no player has matched what Bellingham has achieved in the last two rounds, a feat not seen in four decades. He has become the first athlete since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score twice in consecutive knockout matches in the World Cup. While some accomplishments can appear random, Bellingham’s track record provides insight into why this achievement is far from surprising.
Of Bellingham’s 12 international goals, nine have come during major tournaments—seven at World Cups and two at Euro 2024. Among the 44 players who have scored at least 12 goals for England, none come close to matching Bellingham’s ratio of goals scored in major tournaments.
When examining a broader context, Bellingham’s performance stands out. Compared to his fellow Golden Boot contenders, he significantly outperforms when it comes to the ratio of goals scored in major tournaments relative to his total international minutes.
Bellingham’s scoring isn’t merely a product of penalties or goals against weaker teams. For instance, Haaland scored five against Moldova, currently ranked 159th in the world, while every team Bellingham has scored against has been ranked at least 48th at the time. Even his less celebrated international goals have been crucial; he scored in a friendly at Hampden Park, one of the most challenging venues for England in a non-competitive match. His other two goals were equalisers, both scored in the 87th minute or later, against Belgium in a friendly and Greece in the Nations League. Will he prove decisive for a third consecutive game in the semi-final against Argentina?
Bellingham’s Exceptional Performance
Within this tournament, England has seen four instances of a player achieving at least 0.6 non-penalty expected goals in a single match. If you guessed Ezri Konsa against Croatia as one of these instances, well done! The remaining three instances all featured Bellingham in each of the knockout matches. His knack for identifying significant opportunities is unparalleled.
Forget about the qualifying matches against lesser European teams. When the pressure is on during crucial global fixtures, Bellingham consistently emerges as the player who delivers for England in their most significant moments.
