A few months ago, Jude Bellingham could scarcely catch a break.

He had been left out of an England squad, his performances for Real Madrid were being scrutinised, and every below-par display seemed to generate another wave of criticism.

Pundits questioned his form, supporters debated whether he was done, and headlines increasingly focused on what he wasn't doing.

Fast forward to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Bellingham has responded in the only way elite footballers truly can. He has produced performances that win matches, define tournaments and reshape narratives.

The 23-year-old has been England's heartbeat.

Against Mexico in the Round of 16 at the iconic Estadio Azteca, he produced a performance that will live long in World Cup folklore. His first goal, a towering header in the 35th minute, broke the deadlock. Barely two minutes later, he was celebrating again after calmly finishing a flowing England move.

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Those two goals did more than send England into the quarter-finals. They stamped Bellingham's name into World Cup history, making him the first player, since Diego Maradona in 1986, to score a brace at the Azteca.

The comparison is not made lightly.

Maradona's two goals came in a World Cup semi-final against Belgium, helping Argentina reach the final in what would become the defining tournament of his career. Bellingham achieved his feat against Mexico on home soil, in a stadium where the hosts had not lost for a decade.

A few days later, England found themselves trailing Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals. Once again, they turned to their brightest star.

Bellingham equalised on the stroke of half-time before producing the decisive goal early in extra time, dragging England into the semi-finals and rescuing the Three Lions when they needed him most.

In doing so, he became the first player since Maradona to score braces in consecutive World Cup knockout matches.

Perhaps even more extraordinary is that Bellingham has done it all from midfield.

While strikers often dominate the Golden Boot race and the tournament headlines, England's most decisive player has been the man linking defence and attack. He has combined relentless work rate with composure in possession, tactical intelligence with physical dominance, and leadership with a knack for producing defining moments.

The world's best players do not merely play well; they decide the biggest matches.

Bellingham has done exactly that.

His performances have inevitably reignited discussions about where he ranks among England's greats.

Former England captain Gary Lineker recently suggested Bellingham could one day be remembered as England's greatest-ever player, placing him in the same conversation as Sir Bobby Charlton. Gary Neville described his impact on this World Cup as unlike anything he had witnessed from an England player.

Praise from figures of that stature carries weight. Both men have experienced the pressures of representing England at major tournaments and understand how difficult it is to consistently perform under such scrutiny.

What makes Bellingham's rise all the more compelling is how quickly public opinion shifted.

Football has become increasingly reactive. One difficult spell can erase years of excellence in the eyes of supporters and commentators alike. Social media accelerates that cycle, rewarding instant judgement over patience.

Some observers have also argued that young Black footballers in England often face harsher criticism and shorter grace periods than many of their peers. Whether one agrees entirely with that assessment or not, there is little doubt that the scrutiny surrounding Bellingham became unusually intense.

He never responded publicly.

He didn't complain, seek sympathy or trade words with his critics.

Instead, he allowed his football to do the talking.

That has always been the hallmark of truly elite athletes. They understand that reputations are not rebuilt in press conferences or social media posts, but on the pitch, when the stakes are highest.

England now stand just one victory away from another World Cup final, and no player has been more responsible for getting them there than Jude Bellingham.

His performances have rewritten the narrative, replacing criticism with admiration and doubt with belief.

Jude Bellingham hasn't just answered his critics, he has reminded the football world why he is one of the game's brightest stars. If his performances continue on this trajectory, the conversation may soon shift from whether he belongs among England's greatest players to where exactly he ranks.

The author is a football fan