England produced one of their finest results in living memory on Wednesday, defeating Mexico 3-2 at the iconic Azteca stadium in Mexico City to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals — and doing it with 10 men for much of the contest.

Jude Bellingham struck twice in the first half, and Harry Kane converted a penalty to give England a 3-1 lead. Jarell Quansah's red card in the 54th minute, when the score stood at 2-1, made the final stretch a defensive battle — but the Three Lions held firm.

Just how hard was this to achieve?

The scale of the achievement is difficult to overstate. Mexico had played 89 competitive fixtures at the Azteca before this match, losing only twice — to Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013, both in World Cup qualification. Since that last defeat, they had won 16 and drawn six of their 22 home games at the stadium.

In this World Cup alone, Mexico had posted four wins from four at home, keeping a clean sheet in every one of those matches. England also had to contend with the altitude — the Azteca sits at 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level — as well as a raucous home crowd and a Mexico side ranked 10th in the world.

It is only the second time England have beaten the host nation at a World Cup, following their victory over Switzerland in 1954.

Where does it sit among England's best ever results?

England's greatest result of all time remains their 1966 World Cup final triumph, when they beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley. Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in that final — the only one scored by a player on the winning side in a World Cup final — ensures it stands alone.

Among away wins, the Germany 1-5 England result from 2001 is the benchmark most fans reach for first. Michael Owen's hat-trick in Munich, completed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's side overhauled Germany on goal difference to claim automatic World Cup qualification, was seismic. England had never won so heavily in Germany before.

The 3-2 victory in Seville in 2018 — when England led Spain 3-0 at half-time in a Nations League fixture, ending the hosts' 15-year unbeaten home record in competitive football — is another landmark result. Italy 0-0 England in Rome in 1997, a composed display that sent Italy to the play-offs and returned England to the World Cup, also belongs in any serious discussion.

Further back, Hungary 1-3 England in Budapest in 1981 — with Trevor Brooking scoring twice in front of 70,000 fans — and Scotland 0-5 England at Hampden Park in 1888 both command respect as historic road victories.

Among England's finest moments on neutral ground, David Beckham's penalty against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup group stage, a 3-1 win over France in 1982, Gary Lineker's hat-trick in a 3-0 defeat of Poland in 1986, and the 2018 penalty shootout win over Colombia all stand out.

At home in major tournaments, the 4-1 demolition of the Netherlands at Euro 96 and the 2-0 win over Germany at Euro 2020 are among the most cherished memories — as is the 4-2 victory over Croatia at Euro 2004, when a teenage Wayne Rooney announced himself on the biggest stage.

The win at the Azteca, achieved against a team ranked 10th in the world, at altitude, at the most intimidating venue in world football, and with 10 men — stands firmly among England's greatest results anywhere, in any era.