Arlington, June 18: England kicked off the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a victory, defeating Croatia 4-2 under the captaincy of Harry Kane. In this match, young midfielder Jude Bellingham made headlines by setting a significant record.
In the opening match of Group L against Croatia, Bellingham delivered an impressive performance, playing a crucial role in the team’s win and scoring a goal. At just 22 years old, Bellingham has become the youngest European player to participate in four major international tournaments, including two World Cups and two Euro Cups.
He surpassed Germany’s Jamal Musiala in this regard. Bellingham first appeared in a major tournament during Euro 2020, followed by participation in the Qatar World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024. Another notable English player in this category is Michael Owen, who played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, as well as Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.
Bellingham is among the few players in England’s history to make an international debut at such a young age, doing so at just 17 years and 136 days. Only Theo Walcott and Wayne Rooney debuted at a younger age in England’s history. The match against Croatia showcased England’s exceptional performance, with Kane scoring two goals, followed by Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealing the victory in the second half.
Bellingham expressed pride in representing his country once again, stating that his next goal is to complete 50 international matches. He remarked, “It is my responsibility to give my all for my team and country whenever I step onto the field, wearing that badge and number 10.”
He acknowledged that it has been a long and exhausting season, during which he missed several team camps and training sessions. However, he remained confident that he would perform well whenever given the opportunity and take on responsibilities for his team.
Youngest European Players in Four Major Tournaments:
– Jude Bellingham (England): 22 years, 353 days
– Jamal Musiala (Germany): 23 years, 108 days
– Pedri (Spain): 23 years, 202 days
– Jeremy Doku (Belgium): 24 years, 19 days
– Michael Owen (England): 24 years, 182 days
– Lukas Podolski (Germany): 25 years, 9 days
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