Jude Bellingham silenced critics with a stunning strike to put England 3-1 up against Croatia, helping secure a 4-2 victory in their World Cup 2026 opener. The Real Madrid midfielder collected Elliot Anderson's pass down the right before cutting inside and slotting home just after the break, with Marcus Rashford adding the fourth late on.

Bellingham acknowledged the external pressure surrounding his selection ahead of the match, admitting he has a 'chip on his shoulder' that actually helps him focus. Manager Thomas Tuchel faced a selection dilemma between Bellingham and Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the number 10 role behind Harry Kane, but the 22-year-old justified his inclusion with a composed finish.

The midfielder revealed it's been a 'tougher season' after injury disrupted his 2025-26 campaign and Real Madrid's title challenge fell eight points short of Barcelona. Despite the setbacks, Bellingham feels 'fresh and sharp' heading into the tournament, echoing Jordan Henderson's assessment that he provides England with an 'X-factor'.

Former England defender Micah Richards praised Bellingham as a 'big-game player' who delivers when needed most. This performance marked Bellingham's second consecutive World Cup tournament scoring in the opening match, having also netted against Iran in 2022.