Jude Bellingham delivered an extraordinary performance against Croatia, recording 1 goal and 3 assists. After the match, the Daily Telegraph reported that Bellingham continues to reach new heights and possesses the potential to become England's greatest player in history.

On the eve of the last European Championship, Adidas released a two-minute advertisement featuring Sir David Beckham, Frank Lampard, and British underground rapper Stormzy, with Jude Bellingham as the protagonist.

The advertisement used The Beatles' "Hey Jude" as the background music, portraying Bellingham as the central hero England had always lacked in major tournaments. The ad conveyed the belief that he could shoulder the responsibility and finally end England's long and painful wait for a major tournament victory.

However, the final result was yet another trophy disappointment for England. Bellingham's team felt he had become the scapegoat for the defeat. Bellingham himself later said he felt he had been "sacrificed."

He added, "I felt I was treated unfairly compared to the effort I put in, and I lost my smile."

The defeat in the 2024 European Championship final left Bellingham deeply frustrated, and he felt he had been singled out as the cause of the loss.

At the time, everyone overlooked one thing: it was not the media or Gareth Southgate who had elevated Bellingham to this level, but his agent team and sponsors. Such expectations had come too early. However, if Bellingham can maintain his current trajectory, the prophecy of this advertisement could become reality at the next major tournament in 2028.

Last summer at the World Cup, Bellingham scored 7 goals and delivered outstanding performances in several matches, establishing himself as one of the best players. Gary Lineker once said that this midfielder has the potential to become England's greatest player ever.

In a World Cup quarterfinal against Norway, Bellingham scored twice, rescuing England from the brink of elimination.

These striking and bold statements made headlines, and following Saturday's decisive Nations League victory against Croatia, a flood of similar praise came pouring in. This time, Roy Keane said, "I think Bellingham could be one of the greatest players of all time."

"He is an extraordinary footballer. He is very versatile – his running ability, quality of passing, threat in front of goal, all of it is excellent. Looking at his growth trajectory, I believe he still has enormous room for development."

Without question, Bellingham continues to set new personal records for both Real Madrid and the England national team. Against Croatia, he was nearly unstoppable, recording 1 goal and 3 assists.

The last time an England midfielder was directly involved in 4 goals in a single match was in 1993 when David Platt set the record in a 6-0 thrashing of San Marino, but this time the opponent was Croatia, ranked 14th in the world.

Bellingham is only 23 years old and has already earned 59 caps for England. He will certainly far surpass Harry Kane's final England appearance record. Captain Harry Kane currently has 124 caps for England and will lead the team against Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Harry Kane himself is already a legend and deserves to compete for the title of England's greatest player, particularly given that he has scored 89 goals and is very likely to surpass 100. Wayne Rooney follows with 53 goals, and Kane's scoring record is nearly double Rooney's.

However, as mentioned in Telegraph Sport columns during the World Cup, unless Harry Kane wins a major tournament for England, it will be difficult to call him the team's greatest player of all time. Perhaps he could achieve his dream at the next European Championship, but at 33, time is running short. Bellingham, on the other hand, has at least a decade to pursue a trophy.

Harry Kane is England's all-time leading goalscorer, but his window to compete for international tournament glory is rapidly closing.

Until a trophy is won, the answer to this question is beyond dispute: Sir Bobby Charlton remains England's greatest player of all time. Anyone who wants to challenge this status must first have a major tournament winner's medal. Some even believe a second World Cup win—a second star—is necessary, arguing that a European Championship victory alone cannot compare.

Sir Bobby Charlton was a key contributor to England's 1966 World Cup victory and remains widely recognized as England's greatest player in history.

At the same time, we must acknowledge that Bellingham's importance within the team has increased at a remarkable pace. Not long ago, England was Harry Kane's team. While the captain's status has not diminished, Bellingham's performances have been so exceptional that his influence may have already surpassed Kane's.

Yet less than a year ago, significant doubts remained. In October 2024, Bellingham was left out of the squad, and some unwise remarks from Thomas Tuchel that he would later regret cast uncertainty on whether Bellingham would secure a starting place. At that time, Tuchel highly regarded Morgan Rogers for the number 10 role, believing he was more suited to his system—and coincidentally, Rogers was Bellingham's closest friend in the England squad.

So when Bellingham was named to the World Cup warm-up match and started against Costa Rica in Orlando, it was major news. From the opening whistle, he charged forward at full throttle, pressing hard and setting the tone of the match. Since then, he has run tirelessly, driving England forward with his technical ability and powerful mentality. Now it is his teammates' turn to keep pace with him.

At that time, it would have been difficult to imagine Bellingham becoming captain after Harry Kane. The absence of vice-captain Declan Rice from this squad has further elevated Bellingham's standing within the team.

Previously, he was not even in the discussion as Kane's successor, but now he is a strong candidate. However, if Thomas Tuchel is still leading the team when a new captain is chosen, the general view is that Rice would be the favorite for the captaincy.

What was most impressive about the Croatia match was Bellingham's relentless drive to push the team forward and raise expectations. Since coming to prominence at Dortmund, he has continually demanded higher standards from his teammates. This has occasionally caused friction and misunderstandings, particularly during his time at Dortmund. Older players found it difficult to accept a teenager publicly pointing out their mistakes on the training ground, and some felt he was too aggressive. However, Bellingham's hunger for victory is a quality England has historically lacked, and it could ultimately prove to be the key to success.

Look at England's seventh goal against Croatia—Bellingham also assisted the first goal. This time, he received the ball deep in his own half, and after two touches, he played a through ball to the charging Rogers. The match was already decided, and the easiest choice would have been to keep possession to waste time, but he still tore apart Croatia's defense.

The moment Rogers scored, 60 yards away, Bellingham raised both arms.

He sent a clear message: "Everything is under control."

If he can maintain this mentality, he is more than worthy of expectations to become England's greatest player in history.

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