Jordan Henderson proven right about Jude Bellingham after World Cup prediction made
Jordan Henderson wasn't surprised when Jude Bellingham rose to the occasion once again for England
Jude Bellingham's heroics against Mexico vindicated Jordan Henderson's prediction that the Real Madrid star would prove to be England's defining influence. The Three Lions booked their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2026 following their dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico on Monday morning.
The 23-year-old netted twice within two minutes en route to success, with Harry Kane adding his sixth goal of the competition to secure triumph at the Azteca Stadium. Bellingham has found the net four times in five matches this summer and has repeatedly delivered for his country - a burden Henderson forecast he'd shoulder throughout the tournament.
Speaking about the impact Bellingham holds on England's prospects of glory, the former Liverpool captain said last month: "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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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." Thomas Tuchel's side now face Norway in the quarter-finals after the Scandinavians knocked out Brazil 2-1 on Sunday, thanks to Erling Haaland's late brace.
England have now progressed to the last eight at three consecutive World Cups, with confidence steadily building that 2026 could finally be the year football comes home.
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