Bellingham reaching heights of World Cup legends with Messi next

Jude Bellingham has been a driving force for England as the team moves from the thin air of Mexico City to the intense heat and humidity of Miami, keeping alive the hope of ending a six‑decade wait for a World Cup title. The tournament can often become the stage for a single player to carry a nation toward football’s ultimate prize. Diego Maradona’s 1986 heroics with Argentina, Ronaldo’s redemption‑filled campaign for Brazil in Yokohama in 2002 and Lionel Messi’s long‑sought triumph with Argentina in Doha in 2022 are the classic examples. Even after Bellingham’s two‑goal contribution that saw England overcome Norway in Miami’s furnace, the midfielder still has ground to cover before being mentioned alongside those legends. Significant obstacles remain, not least a semi‑final clash with Messi and Argentina