Wayne Rooney has likened Jude Bellingham's stunning two-goal performance against Mexico to iconic Champions League displays from Steven Gerrard and Roy Keane. The 23-year-old midfielder dragged England to a 3-2 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 last-16 clash at the Azteca, scoring twice in 98 seconds and making a crucial goal-saving tackle.
Rooney, speaking on his BBC podcast, said Bellingham’s all-action display was exactly the kind of leadership and inspiration England needed to keep their tournament alive. "I said Jude Bellingham was going to have a game when we're going to need him to drag us through," said the former Three Lions striker.
Rooney’s High Praise
Rooney rated Bellingham’s performance a perfect 10 out of 10, highlighting the importance of the occasion and the obstacles England faced. "The timing of the goals, his desire, his work rate, his hunger," Rooney listed. Beyond the goals, Bellingham produced a spectacular last-ditch tackle on Cesar Montes just before half-time to keep the score at 2-1, a moment Rooney believes sums up his elite mentality.
"At times defensively he's not always in the right positions, but his desire to get back and put that last-minute tackle in and help his team-mates when they're not maybe having the best game was everything," Rooney added.
The Real Madrid star's heroics helped England overcome the first-half red card to John Stones and a hostile atmosphere in Mexico City, setting up a quarter-final meeting with Norway.
Iconic Comparisons
Rooney drew direct parallels to two of the most famous individual performances in Champions League history. He cited Steven Gerrard’s inspirational display for Liverpool in the 2005 final against AC Milan, where the captain scored the first goal in the comeback from 3-0 down. He also recalled Roy Keane’s towering semi-final performance for Manchester United against Juventus in 1999, when the Irishman scored and drove his team to the final despite knowing a yellow card would rule him out of it.
Both games are revered as examples of one player seizing control and carrying his team through adversity – exactly what Bellingham achieved under the most intense pressure.
Bellingham’s Defining Moment
This tournament has long been seen as Bellingham’s stage to stamp his greatness, and his display against Mexico may be remembered as a defining moment. Already a leader at 23, his combination of technique, physicality, and courage has drawn comparisons with the country's finest. Rooney’s parallel with Keane and Gerrard places him in elite company, but also adds to the growing expectation that Bellingham can finally end England’s 60-year wait for a major trophy.
England’s next challenge is a Norway side brimming with young talent, but with Bellingham in this form, belief is surging that Tuchel’s team can go all the way.
Key Takeaways
- Wayne Rooney hailed Jude Bellingham’s two-goal, all-action display as a "10 out of 10" performance that dragged England past Mexico in the World Cup last 16.
- Rooney compared Bellingham’s heroics to Steven Gerrard’s 2005 Champions League final and Roy Keane’s 1999 semi-final – iconic one-man shows of leadership and quality.
- Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds and made a vital last-ditch tackle to swing the match in England’s favour.
- The result sets up a quarter-final against Norway, with Bellingham emerging as a genuine on-field leader for the Three Lions.
Quick Facts
Match: England 3-2 Mexico (World Cup round of 16)
Bellingham goals: 2 (in 98 seconds)
Rooney’s rating: 10/10
Next fixture: England vs Norway, World Cup quarter-final
Source: BBC Sport
