Real Madrid forward Jude Bellingham has become the driving force of England's 2026 World Cup run, scoring doubles in back-to-back knockout matches as goalscoring records tumble across the expanded tournament.
Key facts
- Bellingham scored twice against Norway on Saturday and twice against Mexico in the previous round.
- He is the first player to score twice in consecutive World Cup knockout matches since Maradona in 1986.
- Lionel Messi (21 goals) and Kylian Mbappé (20) remain the top all-time scorers still in the 2026 edition, with Harry Kane on 14.
- Erling Haaland scored seven times in five matches this summer.
- Bellingham is 23 years old.
England’s 2026 World Cup campaign has, in the words of the Guardian’s Andrew Beasley, rapidly become “the Jude Bellingham show.” The Real Madrid forward scored twice to see off Norway on Saturday, having also bagged a double in the previous round against Mexico.
The 23-year-old’s consecutive knockout-round doubles have placed him in rare company. According to the Guardian, Bellingham is the first player to score twice in consecutive knockout matches at the tournament since Diego Maradona did so in 1986.
Beasley describes Bellingham as a player who “loves delivering on the biggest of stages,” a trait that has repeatedly proven valuable for England during their run through the knockout rounds this summer.
The individual milestone comes during what the Guardian calls the greatest era of World Cup goal scoring, a shift aided by the expansion of the tournament. The two leading scorers in World Cup history remain in the 2026 edition, with Lionel Messi on 21 goals and Kylian Mbappé on 20.
Harry Kane, on 14 goals, also features in the top six all-time scorers still competing this summer. The scoring surge is not limited to established names either.
Erling Haaland scored seven times in only five matches this summer, prompting the Guardian to suggest he may climb into the upper reaches of the all-time chart before he retires.
Why it matters
Bellingham's form has put England among the contenders at an expanded World Cup that is rewriting goalscoring records. For fans, it signals both a standout individual tournament and a broader era in which several all-time greats are chasing history at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
How many goals has Jude Bellingham scored in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds?
Bellingham scored twice against Norway on Saturday and twice against Mexico in the previous round, giving him doubles in consecutive knockout matches.
What record did Bellingham match?
According to the Guardian, he became the first player to score twice in consecutive World Cup knockout matches since Diego Maradona in 1986.
Who are the leading all-time World Cup scorers still in the 2026 tournament?
Lionel Messi leads with 21 goals, followed by Kylian Mbappé on 20, with Harry Kane on 14 also among the top six still competing.