RIJEKA — Jude Bellingham scored and delivered a hat-trick of assists as England dismantled Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League on Saturday in Rijeka, inflicting the heaviest defeat in Croatia's history. The 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder ended the match wearing the captain's armband and became the first England player to record three assists in a game since Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino in November 2021.
The display marked a striking turnaround from October 2025, when Bellingham was left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad and told he would not get star treatment, with his World Cup place in doubt. He made the squad and finished as England's top scorer with seven goals as they reached the semi-finals and finished third. "Jude Bellingham can go on to be one of the greatest players of all time," former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane said on ITV. "At this moment in time, he is an amazing footballer. The package – his running power, his delivery, his goal threat. The way he is progressing as a player, I still think there is a lot more to come from him." Keane added: "He has been fantastic in possession but what he does out of possession lifts all these other players. If you have a player that good in your team, who is amazing in possession and plays for Real Madrid and does brilliant things, but his work rate off the ball will just inspire other players." Recently voted England's player of the year for the second year in a row, Bellingham is now "nailed on as the 10" for the future, former England defender Matt Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live. Tuchel has started Bellingham over Rogers during and after the World Cup.
England's front four shared the headlines in the rout. Record scorer Harry Kane scored twice to move to 89 goals for his country, Bukayo Saka also scored twice, and Anthony Gordon scored and assisted. Kane, 33, was rested with 20 minutes to go, when Bellingham took the armband, underlining his leadership status. Kane can equal Peter Shilton's all-time England appearance record against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday. It was the first time Bellingham has been directly involved in more than two goals in an England game. Former England striker Ian Wright said: "When Bellingham is on the pitch, he is always driving forward and going again and again," adding, "He was involved in everything. His athleticism, his technical ability, his intensity. He never lets up, the way he gets in the box he is always in there unmarked. He is always in there."
Tuchel was asked by BBC Sport if Bellingham had gone to another level. "Yes, at the moment it seems like it, and you always need to," he said. "It's like you can never stand still. It's like on these electric escalators, if you stand still, you walk against the escalator. You have to walk to even maintain your level. You have to develop and you have to push for the next level, otherwise other teams will catch up." Tuchel said the performance was a way to "move on" after the disappointment of the World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina and that he had "adjusted some things" after the tournament, giving players including Bellingham "a lot of responsibility."
Bukayo Saka, who was assisted by Bellingham's quality cross for his first goal, was full of praise. "He was amazing tonight," Saka said of Bellingham. "He deserved player of the year and he deserved man of the match tonight too. He was special. [I'm] happy to play with him and happy to have him in the England team." The emphatic win builds on England Thrash Croatia 7-0 as Kane, Bellingham Star in Rijeka and offers momentum as Tuchel's side looks to push on from its third-place World Cup finish.