Bellingham unlocks new level and potential to be 'one of the greatest'

Jude Bellingham is the first player to record three assists in a game for England since Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino in November 2021 [Getty Images] It's hard to imagine that just a year ago Jude Bellingham's place in the England squad was up in the air. Twelve months on, he is being talked about as having the potential to be one of football's "greatest of all time". The Real Madrid man was left out of Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad in October 2025 and his place at the World Cup was called into question, with the German head coach saying Bellingham wouldn't get star treatment. But Bellingham did of course make the squad for the World Cup and was arguably his team's standout performer, finishing as their top scorer with seven goals as they reached the semi-finals and finished third. He has already shown that he is world class with his starring performances for club and country, but the way he helped England to dismantle Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League on Saturday looked like someone potentially reaching a new level. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Rijeka, scoring as well as registered a hat-trick of assists and ending the match wearing the captain's armband as England inflicted the heaviest defeat in Croatia's history. "Jude Bellingham can go on to be one of the greatest players of all time," former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane said on ITV after the game. "At this moment in time, he is an amazing footballer. The package – his running power, his delivery, his goal threat. The way he is progressing as a player, I still think there is a lot more to come from him." Bellingham, recently voted England's player of the year for the second year in a row, is now "nailed on as the 10" for the future, former England defender Matt Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live. And Keane added: "He has been fantastic in possession but what he does out of possession lifts all these other players. "If you have a player that good in your team, who is amazing in possession and plays for Real Madrid and does brilliant things, but his work rate off the ball will just inspire other players. "He is a huge leader for them." 'Like on the escalator, you can't stand still' Tuchel has started Bellingham over Rogers during and after the World Cup [Getty Images] England's front four will share praise for the way in which they demolished the Croatian backline. Record goalscorer Harry Kane scored twice, as did Bukayo Saka, with Anthony Gordon scoring and assisting too. And Kane will gain more headlines on Tuesday when he can equal Peter Shilton's all-time England appearance record against the Czech Republic at Wembley. In moving to 89 goals for his country, the 33-year-old again showed how irreplaceable he is for England, but, when he was rested with 20 minutes to go, it was Bellingham who took the captain's armband highlighting his importance as a leader with the squad. He was also directly involved in more than two goals in an England game for the first time in his international career and became the first player to record three assists in a game for the Three Lions since Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino in November 2021. And it was Bellingham's performance in front of goal that impressed former England striker Ian Wright. "When Bellingham is on the pitch, he is always driving forward and going again and again," he said. "He was involved in everything. His athleticism, his technical ability, his intensity. He never lets up, the way he gets in the box he is always in there unmarked. He is always in there." Bellingham showed every aspect of his game against Croatia and Tuchel was asked by BBC Sport if he had gone to another level. "Yes, at the moment it seems like it, and you always need to," he said. "It's like you can never stand still. It's like on these electric escalators, if you stand still, you walk against the escalator. You have to walk to even maintain your level. "You have to develop and you have to push for the next level, otherwise other teams will catch up." Tuchel, who said the performance was a way to "move on" after the disappointment of their World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina, said that he "adjusted some things" after the tournament, giving players, including Bellingham, "a lot of responsibility". Bukayo Saka was part of the front four and Bellingham assisted his first goal with a quality cross. "He was amazing tonight," Saka said of Bellingham. "He deserved player of the year and he deserved man of the match tonight too. He was special. "[I'm] happy to play with him and happy to have him in the England team." Who was the best player on the pitch? - England player ratings Ruthless England cruise past Croatia in Nations League