Wayne Rooney says Jude Bellingham has been the standout player of the 2026 World Cup so far, despite arguing that Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland remain the best players in the world overall. His comments come before England’s semi-final against Argentina, where Rooney also suggested Harry Kane could be decisive because Argentina’s central defenders may struggle to cope with him. The remarks matter because they underline how heavily England’s hopes rest on Bellingham’s tournament form and Kane’s ability to deliver in the biggest match so far.

Bellingham, 23, has scored six goals in six games and has also built an impressive England record in major tournaments, with nine goals and three assists across World Cups and European Championships. Kane is level with Bellingham on six goals, and the pair have scored 12 of England’s 13 goals at this World Cup, a level of reliance unmatched by any team with more than 10 goals in a single tournament. Rooney highlighted Bellingham’s energy, drive and big-game impact, while noting that either Bellingham or Kane would set a new England single-tournament scoring mark if they score against Argentina, surpassing the six goals managed by Gary Lineker in 1986 and Kane in 2018.