Bellingham reaching heights of World Cup legends with Messi next

Jude Bellingham has carried England through the altitude of Mexico City then the searing heat and humidity of Miami on what increasingly looks like a personal mission to end a 60-year wait to win the World Cup.

The World Cup can sometimes turn into one player's destiny, carrying an unstoppable momentum towards the sport's greatest prize.

Think Diego Maradona with Argentina in 1986. Think Ronaldo's redemption with Brazil in Yokohama in 2002. Think Lionel Messi finally claiming his personal Holy Grail with Argentina in Doha in 2022.

Despite the England star again coming to his nation's aid with two goals that overcame Norway in the Miami furnace, Bellingham has a long way to go to be bracketed with those iconic figures.

Indeed, there are huge barriers to cross just at this tournament with Messi and Argentina waiting in Atlanta in the semi-final after they beat Switzerland.

And, even then, there is the prospect that Spain, or Kylian Mbappe and a brilliant France side, will be the final frontier to cross in ending the agonising barren years that have stretched back to 30 July 1966 when Sir Alf Ramsey's England won the World Cup.

Formidable barriers, but sometimes world-class players find the force of will to shape a World Cup as they wish – and Bellingham is threatening to do that after the latest magnificent display in a string of magnificent displays.

While not daring to place Bellingham in the stratosphere of Pele or Maradona – which would be ridiculously premature given their history and legendary status – his match-winning performances against Mexico in The Azteca, then against Norway in Miami, at least allow a flattering statistical comparison.

Bellingham is the first player to score two or more goals in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup since Maradona's great tournament in 1986.

He is also, at 23, the second youngest player to achieve this feat behind Pele, who did the same at 17 in 1958 when Brazil won the World Cup in Sweden.

And he is worthy of wearing the famous number "10" jersey they wore at World Cups, only this time in the white of England.

Bellingham's personal statistics, apart from his two goals, in the win against Norway were a compelling indicator of his influence.

He had five shots, the most by an England player, and was also top of the categories measuring most touches in the opposition box (6), most duels won (8) and fouls won (4).

And Bellingham continued his trend of delivering key England goals.

Bellingham famously uttered the words "Who Else?" in the direction of England's fans when he spared them the embarrassment of defeat by Slovakia at Euro 2024.

It was after a spectacular overhead kick equaliser with the clock reading 94 minutes 34 seconds in Gelsenkirchen. It laid the platform for an England win in extra time in the last 16.

He has had his ups and downs since, even being excluded from head coach Thomas Tuchel's squad at one point.

This World Cup has only been an upward curve.

Bellingham could be forgiven for revisiting that "who else?" message after his double in the 3-2 win in Mexico City, then the two goals that saw off Norway.

It was also the latest example of Bellingham's ability to score goals at vital times, to make the defining contributions when England need them most.

Of his 12 goals for England, nine have been at major tournaments. Five have put England ahead and two have been equalisers.

Only Gary Lineker – with six in 1986 – has scored as many non-penalty goals in a single World Cup, with Bellingham having the chance to add more before this tournament ends.

And just to decorate his status as the complete world-class player, Erling Haaland is the only other player at this World Cup to score with his left-foot, right-foot and head.

In short, he is showing an incredibly impressive dynamism in the type of goals he scores. Some have been classic poacher goals, others arriving at the right place at the right time in the box and then those moments of sheer individual brilliance with power, pace and skill on display.

Those of us who are now covering our seventh World Cup have seen this before, when a player simply elevates his own performances, and his team's, to match the environment and pressures in which the sport's greatest prize is won.

In Japan and South Korea in 2002, Brazil's great striker Ronaldo was on his own redemption journey after mystery surrounded his appearance and performance in France four years previously, when the final was lost 3-0 to France in Paris.

Ronaldo was at the centre of speculation about health issues in France and had also suffered serious injuries, so set out to set the record straight in Japan.

He scored both goals as Brazil beat Germany in the final, standing in front of us in the world's media in Yokohama with the simple phrase: "The agony is over."

Messi suffered the pain of defeat when Argentina lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, finally climbing the peak in Qatar with a dramatic win on penalties against France.

While not yet assuming such iconic stature, Bellingham's importance to England is approaching that sort of significance along with, of course, captain Harry Kane.

Bellingham could be said to be on a redemption journey of his own since starring in England's run to the Euro 2024 final, where they lost to Spain.

He had his progress interrupted by shoulder and hamstring injuries which sidelined him at Real Madrid, then the notion that he might not start at the World Cup, with his place under threat from the excellence of his boyhood friend Morgan Rogers, was a live debate.

Tuchel actively encouraged this friendly rivalry, but when push came to shove in the heat of a World Cup, he went for Bellingham's world class, big-game experience and pedigree.

Bellingham has simply taken it all in his stride, making a nonsense of any suggestions he should not have been in Tuchel's best line up.

To be regarded as a great, Bellingham will need to help England finally cross the barrier that has been insurmountable for six decades – but if anyone looks in the mood to do it he does.

Lionel Messi, at 39, remains Argentina's leader and inspiration, still capable of producing the magic that has this proud and passionate football country contemplating a repeat of their World Cup win four years ago.

He has scored eight goals at this World Cup.

But in Bellingham England will believe they have their own powerhouse with such quality who can be their point of difference.

It promises to be an intriguing battle of the number 10s.

Who comes out on top between Messi and Bellingham may well shape who goes through to the World Cup final to face France or Spain.

It is a sign of Bellingham's irreplaceable influence, along with the impact he is having on England and this World Cup, that he will be viewed as a figure of such importance before Wednesday's battle in Atlanta.