Jude Bellingham has been the most impressive player at the World Cup to date, according to former England striker Wayne Rooney. The Real Madrid midfielder has scored six goals in six matches for England.
Rooney, speaking on "The Wayne Rooney Show," stated that while players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have reached elite levels, Bellingham has been the best in the tournament. Bellingham's six goals place him two behind Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot standings, with Erling Haaland on seven.
Bellingham, 23, has become a significant performer for England in major tournaments, notching nine goals and three assists across World Cups and European Championships. Only Mbappe has scored more goals than Bellingham in such tournaments before the age of 24, with 12.
His statistics show a consistent impact, averaging a goal or assist every 138 minutes in major tournaments for England, compared to one every 284 minutes in other international fixtures. His goals in this World Cup include crucial strikes in group stage wins and multiple goals in knockout matches.
Rooney highlighted Bellingham's energy, passion, and drive as key to his success, contrasting him with top players who may rely solely on technical ability. "That's what fans want, especially the England fans," Rooney said. "They want to see players running and working for the team and for the badge."
Rooney also drew parallels to his own playing style, noting Bellingham's flair and competitive intensity. "He reminds me of me in terms of one minute you're thinking, 'this lad's a genius', and the next minute you're thinking, 'don't go into that tackle, don't get sent off'," Rooney remarked. "But he's obviously backing it up in the biggest tournament. There were doubters before but he's put all that to bed."