Bellingham famously uttered the words “Who Else?” in the direction of England’s fans when he spared them the embarrassment of defeat to Slovakia at Euro 2024.
It was after a spectacular overhead kick equaliser with the clock reading 94 minutes 34 seconds in Gelsenkirchen. It laid the platform for an England win in extra-time in the last 16.
He has had his ups and downs since, even being excluded from head coach Thomas Tuchel’s squad at one point.
This World Cup has only been an upward curve.
Bellingham could be forgiven for revisiting that “who else?” message after his double in the 3-2 win in Mexico City, then the two goals that saw off Norway.
It was also the latest example of Bellingham’s ability to score goals at vital times, to make the defining contributions when England need them most.
Of his 12 goals for England, nine have been at major tournaments. Five have put England ahead and two have been equalisers.
Only Gary Lineker – with six in 1986 – has scored as many non-penalty goals in a single World Cup, with Bellingham having the chance to add more before this tournament ends.
And just to decorate his status as the complete world-class player, Erling Haaland is the only other player at this World Cup to score with his left-foot, right-foot and head.
In short, he is showing an incredibly impressive dynamism in the type of goals he scores. Some have been classic poacher goals, others arriving at the right place at the right time in the box and then those moments of sheer individual brilliance with power, pace and skill on display.
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