Thomas Tuchel has always maintained that England's strength is collective — but Jude Bellingham is making an increasingly powerful case for individual brilliance at the FIFA World Cup 2026. With four goals in five matches, the 23-year-old has already surpassed his combined tally from the previous two tournaments and stands as the highest-scoring midfielder in the competition.

Only Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and England team-mate Harry Kane rank above him in the race for the Golden Boot — a remarkable position for a player operating from midfield. Three of his four goals have put England in front, including his first against Mexico, and group-stage strikes against Croatia and Panama.

A different role under Tuchel

The transformation did not happen by accident. Two deliberate tactical decisions by Tuchel have elevated Bellingham's attacking output: pushing him higher up the pitch and granting him the freedom to roam across the final third.

Compare his heat maps across three tournaments and the evolution is stark. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Bellingham was most active either side of the halfway line. At Euro 2024, he moved further forward but remained largely confined to the left flank. At this tournament, he has been a constant presence across the entire attacking third, operating predominantly as a No 10 rather than a No 8.

The numbers confirm it. His average of 2.67 scoring chances per 90 minutes is a dramatic rise from 0.8 per 90 minutes at Euro 2024 and 1.08 per 90 minutes at the 2022 World Cup. His expected goals figures and his touches inside the opposition box have followed the same upward trajectory.

The Bellingham–Kane partnership

Playing closer to Kane has been central to unlocking Bellingham's best form. With Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson providing defensive cover, Bellingham has been free to operate in advanced positions while still tracking back diligently when England are out of possession.