Jude Bellingham Achieves Historic Milestone in FIFA World Cup
Bellingham Joins Elite Ranks
Jude Bellingham, the rising star of English football, has etched his name alongside legends Pele and Michael Owen as the third player to score in two separate FIFA World Cup tournaments before reaching the age of 23. According to ESPN, following his goal in the 47th minute, Bellingham joins Pele (1958, 1962) and Owen (1998, 2002) in this exclusive club.
Setting New Standards in European Football
At just 22 years old, Bellingham played a pivotal role in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia during their World Cup 2026 opener in Texas. He has now become the youngest European player to participate in four major men's tournaments, achieving this milestone at 22 years and 353 days, as reported by Opta Analyst.
This accomplishment makes him the first player to achieve this feat before turning 23, establishing a new record in European football. The previous record was set only four days earlier by Germany's Jamal Musiala, who reached his fourth major tournament appearance at 23 years and 108 days during Germany's 7-1 triumph over Curacao.
Bellingham's Impressive Tournament Experience
Despite his young age, Bellingham has already made significant strides in major tournament history, with his appearance against Croatia marking his 16th cap for England in such events. This achievement places him ahead of notable players like Frank Lampard, Tony Adams, and Bryan Robson, giving him the record for the most appearances by any European player before the age of 23. He currently leads teammate Bukayo Saka and surpasses Josko Gvardiol (14), Pedri (14), Cristiano Ronaldo (12), and Michael Owen (12) in this regard.
England's Strong Start in the Tournament
England kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with an exciting 4-2 win against Croatia in their Group L match at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday (local time). Harry Kane netted two goals, while Jude Bellingham contributed a remarkable strike in the second half, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with a late goal, overcoming a resilient Croatian side.