Roy Keane, the outspoken former Manchester United captain turned Sky Sports analyst, has hailed Jude Bellingham as a potential future legend of the game. The 23‑year‑old England midfielder, who also plies his trade for Real Madrid, delivered a masterclass in Rijeka when the Three Lions thrashed Croatia 7‑0 in the Nations League. In that match Bellingham found the net once and supplied three assists, underscoring his growing influence on the national side.
Bellingham’s rise has been meteoric. He was the standout performer for England at the World Cup, and since the tournament he has been the focal point of Thomas Tuchel’s attacking set‑up, registering thirteen goal involvements in his last eleven appearances. Keane, speaking on ITV after the Croatia game, described the midfielder’s display as "a complete performance" and emphasized that Bellingham has evolved into "a huge leader for England". "There’s still a lot more to come from Jude," Keane said.
"He can become one of the greatest players of all time. His attitude for England has been superb – I’ve praised his technical brilliance in possession, but what truly lifts the team is his work off the ball." Keane highlighted that Bellingham’s relentless pressing, intelligent positioning and willingness to cover defensively inspire his teammates. "If you have a player who is that good in possession, who is playing for Real Madrid and doing brilliant things, but also has that incredible work rate when the ball is lost, it galvanises the whole squad," he added. The English side, according to Keane, reduced Croatia – ranked 14th globally – to a "Gibraltar‑type" outfit, leaving them helpless against England’s fluid attack.
"Everything you would want. A complete performance," he summed up. Bukayo Saka, who contributed two goals in the same fixture, echoed Keane’s praise.
"It was an amazing night for us," Saka told ITV. "We played with high energy and spirit and punished them tonight.
Jude was amazing – he deserved player of the year and probably man of the match as well. He was special, and I’m happy to have him in the England team." Tuchel, too, acknowledged the step‑up in Bellingham’s game, while cautioning that football never allows complacency. "Yes, at the moment it seems like he’s taken a step up, but you always need to improve," the German coach said.
"The level you showed last week is never enough for the next week – that’s the nature of football." The manager also praised the cohesion of his front four: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon. All four got on the scoresheet against Croatia, demonstrating the versatility and interchangeability that Tuchel has cultivated. Kane explained the fluidity of roles, noting that each player can operate as a number 9, a number 10 or even drop deeper into midfield, making it difficult for opponents to pinpoint a pressing strategy. "There’s freedom.
All four of us are good players, we can play in the 10 pocket, Ant can play as a No 9, B can come in as a No 10, Jude can play as a No 9, I can play as a midfielder," Kane said. "If you lose the ball, we’re all smart enough to cover in midfield or defence. That’s the way we want to play." Tuchel elaborated on why the quartet was so effective, citing the support of the full‑backs and the high‑level movement behind the line.
"They get better and better. I didn’t want to change too much from match to match, to keep the fluidity and the automatisms right within the front four.
They enjoy playing together, their work rate is high, and the counter‑press is on a high level – these are complete performances," he explained. The match report from Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett captured the magnitude of England’s dominance: "England sank Croatia without a trace on the Adriatic coast, with the Good Ship Tuchel now full steam ahead after the World Cup supporter mutiny. No one could have predicted a performance of this utter dominance against the team ranked 14 in the world." Dorsett described the English attack as a "red‑hot knife" cutting through Croatia’s midfield and defence, with Kane scoring twice and assisting once, Saka netting a brace, Bellingham providing a goal and three assists, and Gordon adding both a goal and an assist. "Croatia were simply blown away, and England could have won by more," he wrote.
The consensus among pundits, players and the manager is clear: Jude Bellingham is not only delivering on the pitch today but also laying the foundation for a legacy that could see him rank among the sport’s all‑time greats. His blend of technical skill, tactical intelligence, relentless work ethic and leadership qualities make him a rare talent. As Keane put it, "There’s still a lot more to come from Jude," and the football world will be watching closely to see just how far his potential can be realised.
The performance in Rijeka serves as a statement victory for England, signalling to the rest of the world that they possess a lethal, adaptable front line capable of overwhelming any opposition. If Bellingham continues on this trajectory, his name may soon be mentioned alongside the legends of the game.