Jude Bellingham has etched his name into World Cup history by becoming the first player in 40 years to score twice in consecutive knockout matches, matching a benchmark set by Diego Maradona at Mexico 1986. The 23-year-old Real Madrid forward followed his double against Mexico in the previous round with another brace in Saturday’s victory over Norway, underlining his reputation for delivering when elimination threatens.
The 2026 tournament has witnessed prolific scoring from established superstars, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé leading the all-time charts and Harry Kane among the top six. Yet Bellingham’s consecutive braces in the pressure-cooker environment of the knockout phase represent a specific type of clutch performance not seen since Maradona’s era.
Major tournament specialist
Bellingham’s numbers reveal a player who reserves his finest performances for the most critical fixtures. Nine of his 12 international goals have come at major tournaments, with seven struck at World Cups and a further two during Euro 2024. This ratio stands apart from any other England player with at least a dozen goals; none of his teammates match his proportion of strikes scored on the grandest stages.
The midfielder has avoided padding his statistics against lower-ranked opposition. Unlike peers who have amassed goals against weaker nations—Erling Haaland once scored five in a single match against Moldova, then ranked 159th globally—every team Bellingham has scored against has been placed 48th or higher. His remaining three international goals have also arrived under duress: one in a hostile friendly at Scotland’s Hampden Park and two as late equalisers against Belgium and Greece.
Argentina await in semi-finals
England now face Argentina in the semi-finals, where Bellingham’s knack for finding high-quality chances will be tested again. Analysis of expected goals shows he has generated at least 0.6 non-penalty xG in each of his three knockout appearances at this tournament. Among England’s squad, only Ezri Konsa has matched that figure in a single match. Having already decided two consecutive elimination matches, the 23-year-old will aim to make the difference for a third successive game as the Three Lions bid for a place in the final.