Terry Hails Bellingham's Historic Performance
Former England captain John Terry has lavished praise on Jude Bellingham following his exceptional display in the FIFA World Cup 2026, comparing the young midfielder's influence and style to football legend Zinedine Zidane. Terry made the remarks after Bellingham scored twice in England's thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Sunday, July 7.
According to Goal.com, Terry admitted the comparison with Zidane might have seemed ambitious initially but was justified by Bellingham's performance. "You see, Jude, last night, I compared him to Zinedine Zidane, and I was maybe a little bit ambitious, but look at that game last night with what he's doing, he is unbelievable. His two goals just topped it off for me, and what a ball from Harry Kane was, well, for his second goal," Terry said.
Bellingham Joins Elite Company with Azteca Double
Bellingham became the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score twice in a FIFA World Cup match at the Azteca Stadium. Maradona achieved the feat against Belgium in the 1986 semi-finals. The victory also marked a historic first for England, as they became the first team to defeat Mexico at the Azteca in World Cup history, where the hosts had previously gone unbeaten in 10 matches.
With the win, England secured a quarter-final clash against Norway scheduled for July 11. Bellingham's goalscoring impact and leadership qualities were highlighted by Terry, who also emphasized the importance of key figures such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Reece James in driving England's success.
Terry Urges Key Players to Stay Fit
Terry stressed the critical role of these players in England's campaign, urging them to avoid injuries. "They cannot get injured and have to be at the forefront of our success. Without those guys driving the team, driving the standards... There are leaders in the group. Harry Kane, we've seen that in his football career, Jude Bellingham at that young age doing that already, Declan Rice, I'm also including Reece James in that," he added.
Bellingham, at just 23 years old, has already established himself as a leader on the pitch, drawing comparisons to one of the game's greatest midfielders. Terry's comments underscore the high expectations surrounding England as they continue their World Cup journey.
