England’s journey through the World Cup has become largely defined by the remarkable performances of Jude Bellingham. The 23-year-old forward scored twice against Norway on Saturday, following a similar achievement in the previous round against Mexico. His ability to thrive on such significant stages has been nothing short of impressive.
This World Cup is witnessing a scoring frenzy, coinciding with the tournament’s expansion. Legendary players Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé continue to lead the all-time scoring chart, with Harry Kane also making the top six. Notably, Erling Haaland netted seven goals in just five matches this summer, indicating that he might soon join the ranks of the elite scorers.
However, no player has matched Bellingham’s achievement in the last two rounds. He has become the first to score twice in consecutive knockout matches since Diego Maradona did so in 1986. While such accomplishments can sometimes seem arbitrary, Bellingham’s track record suggests a clear reason for his success.
Out of his 12 international goals, nine have come during major tournaments, with seven at the World Cup and two at Euro 2024. None of the other 44 players who have scored at least 12 times for England can compare to Bellingham’s ratio of goals scored at significant events.
When viewed in a broader context, Bellingham stands out among his peers competing for the Golden Boot, as he far exceeds them in terms of scoring efficiency relative to his international minutes played during major tournaments.
Moreover, Bellingham’s goals have not come from penalties or against weaker teams. Haaland, for example, scored five against Moldova, a team currently ranked 159th in the world, while every team Bellingham has scored against was ranked at least 48th at the time. His less celebrated goals have still been crucial; he found the net in a friendly at Hampden Park, known for its intense atmosphere, and scored equalisers late in matches against Belgium and Greece. Fans now wonder if he can make the difference once again in the semi-final against Argentina.
Throughout this tournament, England has seen four instances where a player registered at least 0.6 expected goals from non-penalty situations in a single game. If you guessed Ezri Konsa’s performance against Croatia, you would be correct. The other three performances belong to Bellingham, who demonstrated an unmatched ability to create significant scoring opportunities.
When the stakes are highest on the global stage, Jude Bellingham has proven to be England’s key player in crucial moments.
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