Jude Bellingham is proving why he could be the reason England go all the way, despite Harry Kane being the one in Ballon d’Or shouts.
While the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Kane are battling it out for the Golden Boot, Bellingham could be in the race for the Golden Ball award with his performances.
England are in the quarter-final of the World Cup after some inspiring performances from the 23-year-old midfielder.
They will face Norway to earn a place in the semi-final, where England could face off against Messi’s Argentina for a place in the final.
If Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions are to make it all the way and win the competition, Bellingham’s performances will be pivotal, as they have been thus far, giving him every chance of winning player of the tournament.
In this article, we’ll cover
How the data stacks
Bellingham has scored four goals so far in the tournament, netting once against Croatia, once against Panama and twice against Mexico.
Only forwards have managed to level or surpass Bellingham on goals, none of them having shot accuracy of the midfielder, who has a 75% shooting accuracy.
From his 12 shots, Bellingham has got nine on target, scoring four goals and getting himself on the end of seven big chances (missing three).
Bellingham also has the most take-ons completed for a midfielder, completing nine of his 15 take-on attempts.
He is also joint-highest for big chances created on three among midfielders in the competition, also creating eight chances.
England’s star isn’t just putting in work at the top end of the pitch though, already clocking 12 tackles, more than Declan Rice who is on three.
He has also won the most possessions in the defensive third of any English midfielder, winning possession 10 times, while both Rice and Elliot Anderson have won nine.
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Box crashing
The relationship between Kane’s gravity and Bellingham’s box crashing ability has been a key theme this tournament for England.
While Bellingham’s first two goals of the tournament came from clearing space in the channel and a set-piece, his threat since then has been heavily linked to his box crashing abilities.
Against DR Congo, England’s best chances in the first half came from crosses into the box, generated by wide triangle rotations.
With so much focus on Kane from the central defenders, Bellingham was able to arrive in the box as the secondary attacker, getting on the end of two crosses and testing the keeper.
These dynamics were then replicated against Mexico, despite Bellingham not scoring against DR Congo.
Bellingham’s first goal against Mexico saw Bukayo Saka isolate the full-back 1v1, creating separation for a delivery into the box.
Kane was then able to make a movement towards the near post, dragging both of Mexico’s central defenders away from the middle.
Bellingham was then able to make a bursting run off the back of Mexico’s second line, arriving in the box with a free header to make it 1-0.
The second goal was another example of this, as Kane received the ball inside the box, in an area he would usually pull the trigger.
Instead, with defenders shifting across to defend Kane, Bellingham was able to arrive in a centre-forward position, as Kane played a reverse pass into his path, providing the tap in and making it 2-0.
Off-ball work
It would be easy for Bellingham to skimp out with his defensive effort, considering the importance and quality he has at the other end.
However, with the team mentality Tuchel has created, Bellingham’s effort on both sides of the ball has become a driving force.
Leading by example, the 23-year-old midfielder has been all action, winning duels, tracking back to defend transitions and counterpressing with intensity to stop counterattacks at the source.
This type of energy reverberates through the team, with one of the star men in attack winning big tackles, it feeds into the togetherness and desire to work for each other.
Against Mexico, it was a different type of effort, defending deeper and working hard to shuffle in the block, applying pressure both centrally and out wide.
Bellingham’s work ethic has been inspiring for England so far and is a part of the game that isn’t always given the praise it should be, especially from attack-minded players.
Carries and creation
Bellingham isn’t just a box to box midfielder who scores goals and wins duels, he is also one of the best dribblers in central areas in the world.
His ability to use his body and frame to shield the ball, twinkle toe his way out of tight spaces but also then carry over long distances make him incredibly tough to stop.
Bellingham’s range and ability to carry the ball allows him to drag England up the pitch, alleviate pressure in different game states and find solutions to progress play.
Once he finds himself in the final third, he is a threat in multiple ways, not only the box crashing tendencies mentioned earlier.
Against Panama, Bellingham took things into his own hands and provided the moments of quality, playing a lovely through ball to Kane who forced a corner, which Bellingham then scored from.
The assist for Kane’s goal against Panama showed that quality to create for others once again, recieving a ball into the channel where he could face up the defender 1v1.
Bellingham beat his man to create seperation, before delivering a lovely lofted ball on his weak foot into the box, which Kane converted with a nice headed effort.
If England are to win the World Cup, it will be down to the duo of Bellingham and Kane, but who will provide the biggest moment?
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