Henderson’s Bellingham prediction proved spot on after Mexico brace

Jordan Henderson’s assessment of Jude Bellingham’s importance to England has been emphatically vindicated after the Real Madrid midfielder struck twice to send Thomas Tuchel’s side into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Bellingham scored twice in the space of two minutes as England came from behind to beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium, with Harry Kane also on the scoresheet to make it six goals for the tournament. The victory, sealed in dramatic fashion in the early hours of Monday morning, took the 23-year-old’s own tally to four goals in five games this summer.

Henderson’s words ring true

Before England’s World Cup campaign got under way, Henderson had spoken glowingly about the impact he expected Bellingham to have this summer. Speaking last month, the former Liverpool captain, who handed Bellingham his first England cap away at Middlesbrough five years ago, said he had always sensed something special in the youngster.

“I’m sure he will have a big impact for us in this tournament. I can remember five years ago, I gave him his first cap, it was away at Middlesbrough,” Henderson said, according to Mirror Football.

“How much he’s grown, as a player and as a person since then, is incredible really. I had a good idea when I first saw him playing and training, and the way he was. I think everybody forgets how young he is.”

Henderson went on to describe the humility Bellingham still shows in training sessions despite his status as one of the world’s leading midfielders. “We do rondos and the youngest in, and there’s people that I think should be going in before him, but he’s always one of the first in the middle to go in. It just reminds us how young he is,” he said.

‘Something really special’

Henderson was also keen to defend Bellingham against outside scrutiny, insisting his value to the squad goes well beyond what is written about him. “I honestly couldn’t speak highly enough of him. I know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence he is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,” he said.

“And what he gives us is just something really special, he really gives us the X-factor in our team. He’s had big moments in his career, he’s a big game player, he’s got experience in tournaments. So he’s a huge, huge player for us in this tournament.”

Those words have now been backed up on the pitch, with Bellingham once again proving decisive when England needed him most against a spirited Mexico side.

Norway await in the last eight

Tuchel’s side will now face Norway in the quarter-finals after Erling Haaland’s late double saw them beat Brazil 2-1 on Sunday. It means England have reached the last eight of the World Cup for a third consecutive tournament, with belief building that 2026 could finally be the year football comes home.

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