Bellingham proud of England for ‘standing tall’ in career-highlight win over Mexico

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Jude Bellingham described England’s World Cup victory over Mexico as the highlight of his international career, having followed in the footsteps of Diego Maradona with a memorable brace at the Estadio Azteca.

Bellingham scored twice in the space of 98 first-half seconds as England emerged as 3-2 victors amid a raucous atmosphere in Mexico City, despite playing 48 minutes (including stoppage time) with 10 men following Jarrell Quansah’s red card.

That made him the first player to score twice in a World Cup game at the iconic venue since 1986, when Maradona did so for Argentina in a 2-0 semi-final win over Belgium.

One round earlier, at the same stadium, Maradona had also netted twice against England, with the “hand of God” and the “goal of the century” representing arguably the most famous brace in World Cup history.

When Bellingham was asked how it felt to replicate Maradona’s achievements, he told ITV Sport: “He’s far greater than me! But it’s nice company to be in. 

“Obviously for me, growing up as an England supporter, it was always seeing us play in these games – in tough atmospheres against tough opposition – and we’d crumble.

“To be part of a team that’s stood tall against all the adversity and come out on top, I’m so proud.

“Growing up as an England fan, you always wished the teams had a bit more bite and a bit more personality, and we’ve shown that. For the lads that are new, who haven’t played in these games before, it’s the perfect message to them – that they can handle it.”

1986 –  Jude Bellingham scored twice, had three shots on target, made eight dribbles and won 10 duels last night.

He was the first player to produce all of those numbers in a FIFA World Cup knockout match since  Diego Maradona in the 1986 semi-final vs Belgium.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2026

Prior to Sunday’s game, England boss Thomas Tuchel suggested England were owed “karma” from Maradona’s infamous opening goal in 1986, which was scored with his hand.

But Bellingham feels that wrong will not be righted unless England go on to lift the trophy, saying: “We’re still a few games away from that. I think karma comes when… well, they [Argentina] won it in ’86.

“Karma’s not fulfilled yet, but we’ll see what we can do. I’m so proud of this squad, it was more than me, more than Harry [Kane], more than the manager, it was a performance from all the squad.”

Bellingham put in a phenomenal shift for the 10 men of England, having the most touches (55) of any player for the Three Lions while winning 10 of his 16 duels and both attempting (eight) and completing (four) the most dribbles of anyone on the pitch.

Asked where the victory ranked among his England achievements, the Euro 2024 finalist said: “It’s right up there. In my England career, it’s probably the pick of the bunch.

“The atmosphere, the conditions, the performance of the team, the camaraderie… I can’t credit anyone enough for what they’ve done tonight. I couldn’t be prouder and I’m so glad we’ve given our country another night to celebrate.”

Anthony Gordon was the only player to contest more duels than Bellingham (21), while he also matched his team-mate for successful duels (10) and won the penalty from which Kane scored what proved to be the winner.

The winger used his own post-match interview to lavish praise upon Bellingham, saying: “He’s a global superstar for a reason. 

“He’s 23 years of age, and what he’s achieved so far is just incredible. More importantly, he’s a one-of-a-kind human being.

“He’s so humble, he never talks about himself. He puts the lads first and makes people feel special. He’s just an incredible human being.”

FIFA World Cup News

Haaland tells fans to continue partying after ‘sickest day’ in Norway’s history

FIFA World Cup News

Queiroz leaves Ghana role after World Cup elimination

FIFA World Cup News

‘He will do better than me’ – Aguirre backs Marquez after Mexico reign ends with England defeat

FIFA World Cup News

‘Heroic’ Azteca success felt like winning a final, says England boss Tuchel

FIFA World Cup News

‘Now it’s over’ – Neymar announces Brazil retirement after World Cup exit

FIFA World Cup News

FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun ban like ‘April Fool’s Day’, says Belgium boss Garcia

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.