Roy Keane, the outspoken former Manchester United captain who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, has declared that Jude Bellingham has the potential to become one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen. The 23‑year‑old English midfielder, who also plies his trade for Real Madrid, delivered a masterclass in Rijeka when England thrashed Croatia 7‑0 in the Nations League, scoring once and providing three assists. Keane praised the performance as a complete display from a player who has already emerged as a "huge leader for England" and suggested that the best is still to come.
Bellingham’s rise has been meteoric. At the World Cup he was England’s standout performer, and since the tournament he has been the focal point of Thomas Tuchel’s side, contributing to 13 goals or assists in his last 11 appearances. After the Croatia game, Keane told ITV that the Englishman’s attitude and work ethic are just as impressive as his technical ability. "His attitude for England recently… I have been praising him for being fantastic in possession, but what he is doing out of possession lifts all these players," Keane said.
He added that a player who can dominate with the ball and then track back with relentless energy inspires teammates and raises the overall level of the squad. The English media and teammates echoed Keane’s admiration. Bukayo Saka, who netted a brace in the same match, described the night as "amazing" and singled out Bellingham as the player of the year, saying he deserved both the individual award and the man‑of‑the‑match accolade.
"He was special," Saka said. "Happy to play with him and happy to have him in the England team." Tuchel himself confirmed that Bellingham appears to be operating at a higher level, while warning that football never allows a player to become complacent. "Yes, at the moment it seems like that and you always need to," the German manager explained. "The level 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 tactical set‑up that has produced such results features a potent front four: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon. All four got on the scoresheet against Croatia, demonstrating the fluidity and interchangeability that Tuchel has cultivated. Kane, England’s captain, told ITV that the quartet enjoys freedom to rotate positions – "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." This versatility makes it difficult for opponents to decide who to press, as each player can drop into midfield or surge forward as the situation demands.
Tuchel highlighted the importance of the full‑backs and the collective work‑rate in making the front line so dangerous. "The support from the full‑backs, of course, and then the movements through the last line were on the highest level today," he said. He emphasized that maintaining fluidity required minimal changes between matches, allowing the players to develop instinctive connections and automatisms. The result was a seamless transition from training sessions to a high‑intensity match where England dominated possession, pressed aggressively, and executed clinical finishes.
Sky Sports News correspondent Rob Dorsett summed up the spectacle in Rijeka: England "sank Croatia without a trace" and displayed a level of dominance that few could have predicted against a team ranked 14th in the world. He likened England’s attacking play to "a red‑hot knife carving through softened butter," noting that the front four combined for a staggering tally – Kane with two goals and an assist, Saka with a brace, Bellingham with a goal and a hat‑trick of assists, and Gordon contributing a goal and an assist.
Dorsett concluded that the 7‑0 victory was not just a win but a statement of England’s capabilities under Tuchel. If Keane’s assessment holds true, Bellingham’s trajectory points toward a legacy comparable with the legends of the game.
His blend of technical brilliance, tactical intelligence, and relentless off‑the‑ball effort mirrors the qualities that defined players like Johan Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane and, more recently, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Yet, unlike many greats who excel primarily in one facet, Bellingham offers a rare combination of creativity, defensive contribution, and leadership at a young age. Looking ahead, the challenges will be maintaining consistency and continuing to evolve.
The English squad will face tougher opposition in upcoming qualifiers and tournaments, and Bellingham will need to adapt his game as opponents study his movements. Tuchel’s warning that "you can never stand still" is a reminder that even a player of Bellingham’s calibre must keep pushing boundaries, refining his decision‑making, and expanding his skill set. Nevertheless, the signs are overwhelmingly positive. England’s recent performances have shown a team that can dominate possession, press with intensity, and transition swiftly from defence to attack.
Bellingham sits at the heart of this transformation, acting as both the creative engine and a tireless workhorse. As he continues to mature, the football world will be watching closely to see whether he can indeed ascend to the pantheon of the sport’s all‑time greats.