Roy Keane, the outspoken Sky Sports analyst, has declared that Jude Bellingham – the 23‑year‑old England and Real Madrid midfielder – possesses the potential to become one of the sport’s all‑time legends. Keane’s comments came after England’s emphatic 7‑0 victory over Croatia in the Nations League, a match played in front of a sparse crowd at Rijeka’s HNK Rijeka stadium. Bellingham, who found the net once and supplied three assists, was a central figure in what turned out to be Croatia’s heaviest defeat in recent memory. During the tournament, Bellingham has already cemented his status as England’s most influential player.
At the World Cup he shone brightly, and under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance he has become the focal point of the team’s attacking thrust. In his last eleven appearances, Bellingham has been directly involved in thirteen goals – a statistic that underscores his growing importance on the international stage. Keane praised the young midfielder’s performance after the Croatia game, calling it a "complete" display and noting that Bellingham has evolved into "a huge leader for England." He added on ITV, "There’s still a lot more to come from Jude.
He can go on to become one of the greatest players of all time." Keane highlighted not only Bellingham’s technical brilliance in possession but also his tireless work off the ball, saying that his relentless effort lifts the entire squad. "If you have a player who is that good in your team, who is amazing in possession and is playing for Real Madrid and doing brilliant things, but his work rate off the ball, that will inspire all the other players," Keane explained.
The former Manchester United captain also remarked that England made the world‑ranked‑14 Croatia look like a "Gibraltar‑type of team," emphasizing the total dominance of the English side. "Everything you would want.
A complete performance," he concluded. England teammate Bukayo Saka, who contributed two goals in the rout, echoed Keane’s admiration. Speaking to ITV, Saka said, "It was an amazing night for us. We played with high energy and spirit and punished them tonight.
He [Bellingham] was amazing tonight to be fair. He deserved player of the year and he probably deserves man of the match tonight as well. He was special.
Happy to play with him and happy to have him in the England team." Tuchel, too, acknowledged that Bellingham appears to have taken a step up in his game, while warning that continual improvement is essential in football. When asked if the midfielder had progressed, the German coach replied, "Yes, at the moment it seems like that and you always need to. The level that you showed last week is never enough in the next week, that's just the nature of football.
We adjusted some things, gave the players a lot of responsibility and they are a group to be trusted." The manager also praised the cohesion of England’s front four – Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon – all of whom found the net against Croatia. Kane described the unit as offering "freedom" and versatility: "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. It's so hard for the opposition to pick it up.
The bottom line is if you lose the ball, we're all smart enough and good enough to cover in midfield or defence." Tuchel elaborated on why the quartet was so effective, pointing to the support from the full‑backs and the high‑level movements across the final line. He said, "They get better and better.
That's why I didn't want to change so much from match to match, to get the fluidity going and to get the movements going and to get the automatisms right within the front four but they are very good together at the moment. They enjoy playing together and the work rate is on a high level and the counter‑press is on a high level so these are complete performances." Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports News summed up the spectacle in Rijeka: "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. England cut through a woeful Croatia midfield and defence at will, like a red‑hot knife through softened butter, and Tuchel's front men had a field day." He highlighted the individual contributions: two goals and an assist from captain Kane, a brace from Saka, a goal and a hat‑trick of assists from the irrepressible Bellingham, and a goal plus an assist from the equally magnificent Anthony Gordon.
"Croatia were simply blown away, and England could have won by more. When England are rampaging all over the pitch like this, winning back possession when they have no right to do so, passing forward at every opportunity and finishing ruthlessly, there is no better team in world football to watch.
Seven‑nil in Rijeka does not flatter them. This was a statement victory, and a marker of what they are capable of," Dorsett concluded.
The consensus among pundits, teammates and the manager is clear: Jude Bellingham is not only delivering stellar performances now, but he is also on a trajectory that could see him listed alongside the greatest names in football history. His blend of technical skill, tactical intelligence, and indefatigable work ethic makes him a rare talent, and if he continues to develop as those close to him predict, the future could indeed see him celebrated as one of the game’s all‑time greats.