Jude Bellingham Joins Elite Ranks with World Cup Milestone
Bellingham's Historic Achievement
In Texas, on June 18, England's football prodigy Jude Bellingham has etched his name alongside legends Pele and Michael Owen, becoming 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. The 22-year-old was instrumental in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in their World Cup opener.
Bellingham has also made history as the youngest European to participate in four major men's tournaments, achieving this feat at just 22 years and 353 days during the World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia, as reported by Opta Analyst.
This accomplishment makes him the first player to achieve this milestone before turning 23, setting a new standard in European football.
Just four days prior, Germany's Jamal Musiala had broken the previous record, making his fourth major tournament appearance at 23 years and 108 days during Germany's 7-1 triumph over Curacao.
Spain's Pedri (23 years, 202 days) and Belgium's Jeremy Doku (24 years, 19 days) also reached their fourth major tournament appearances at the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde and Egypt, respectively.
Despite his young age, Bellingham is already among the most seasoned young players in major tournament history, with his match against Croatia marking his 16th appearance for England in significant competitions.
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 category.
In their World Cup 2026 opener, England secured an exciting 4-2 win over Croatia at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday (local time), with Harry Kane netting two goals, Bellingham contributing a remarkable strike in the second half, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealing the victory with a late goal, overcoming a resilient Croatian side.