Jude Bellingham
World Cup 2026

Bellingham's genius lies in his position ambiguity. Registered as an attacking midfielder or second striker, he's most dangerous operating between the lines — picking up the ball with his back to goal, turning, and driving into space. At Real Madrid under Ancelotti he played as an advanced midfielder with license to arrive late into the box.

For England, manager Gareth Southgate's successor has built a system with Bellingham as the pivot. He drops deep to receive, plays quick one-twos with Kane, then makes late runs to get on the end of crosses. His ability to control a game's tempo is rare — England have averaged 2.1 goals per game in qualifying with Bellingham starting, compared to 1.3 without him.

The key question heading into WC2026 is whether Bellingham can replicate his Real Madrid form on the international stage for a full tournament. In Qatar 2022 he was exceptional in flashes but England as a collective underperformed. Euro 2024 was different — he dragged England to the final with three decisive moments. WC2026 should be his ultimate stage.