Wayne Rooney says Jude Bellingham’s display against Mexico brought to mind the iconic European performances of Steven Gerrard and Roy Keane.
Bellingham, 23, struck twice in 98 seconds as Thomas Tuchel’s England, down to 10 men, edged a 3-2 World Cup classic at the Azteca. The result sets up a quarter-final against Norway as England pursue a first major title since 1966.
Speaking on his BBC podcast, the former England striker likened Bellingham’s impact to Gerrard inspiring Liverpool’s comeback from 3-0 down in the 2005 Champions League final and Keane’s towering showing against Juventus that propelled Manchester United to the 1999 European Cup final despite his suspension.
Rooney said he had expected a night when Bellingham would need to carry the team, praising the timing of his brace along with his intensity, work rate and hunger.
He also pointed to a vital first-half recovery tackle, when the Real Madrid midfielder raced back to deny Mexico defender Cesar Montes what would have been a 2-2 equaliser on the stroke of half-time. While acknowledging Bellingham isn’t always perfectly positioned defensively, Rooney said his determination to recover and help teammates stood out.
Given the stakes and the adversity surrounding the match, Rooney awarded Bellingham a perfect 10 for his last-16 performance, calling it the right occasion to give the highest mark.