As Jordan Pickford punched away the umpteenth Mexican cross and the Australian official blew the final whistle, Jude Bellingham collapsed in victory inside the England penalty area. Battered, bruised, exhausted. Sometimes the Real Madrid midfielder’s histrionics are a tad over the top. Not this time.
The magnitude of the stage – the World Cup’s most iconic stadium – was inescapable. England were public enemy No 1, facing the co-hosts in their near-impenetrable Azteca fortress. And at an altitude of 7,200m, Bellingham did not catch his breath: he was simply breathless.
“Jude Bellingham's brace powers England to a 3-2 World Cup last-16 win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.”
Nobody rose to the occasion more than England’s talismanic attacking midfielder on Sunday night. And it wasn’t just his goals, which were brilliant by the way. It was his last-ditch tackles, his phenomenal hold-up play, his output off the ball, his motivational barks at his teammate, his wondrous quick feet.
Thomas Tuchel’s side fought tooth and nail to defeat World Cup 2026 co-hosts Mexico 3-2 on their home turf in the early hours of Monday morning. Bellingham struck twice in as many minutes before half time, set up by Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane respectively. The first came after Declan Rice surged down the pitch, Saka chipped a cross and Bellingham – with the slightest of faints to go near post before shifting to the back post, leaving forlorn Mexican marker Roberto Alvarado for dead – headed home. Ninety-eight seconds later, Bellingham had his second: he fed Kane who reversed with pinpoint accuracy for Bellingham to beat Mexico’s dogged Erik Lira again. The last player to score twice at the Cabecera Norte end of the Azteca in an England game? A certain Diego Maradona in 1986.
Minutes later, Mexico clawed one back just before the break and looked set for a comeback when Jarell Quansah was sent off for a wild challenge in the second half, only for Kane to convert a penalty – his sixth goal of the tournament – to hand England a 3-1 advantage after Anthony Gordon was brought down in the box. Kane then gave away a penalty at the other end which was slotted away, setting up a nervy final half hour, including 11 minutes of stoppage time. But the Three Lions stood firm and saw out a famous win at the Azteca Stadium, banishing their demons of old.
Mexican media reacted by heaping praise on Bellingham and his team-mates. Excelsior described it as an overall "great performance" by the 1966 winners, writing: "The power of Jude Bellingham, the strength of Harry Kane and England's defensive prowess were like iron hammers that demolished Mexico's World Cup dreams, still unable to win the important matches. England won through sheer hard work and experience, with more talented players coming through when it mattered most. Jude Bellingham had warned everyone he wasn't going to be taken lightly." El Universal echoed those feelings, noting: "Guillermo Ochoa warned the media a day before the match that clinical efficiency is what defines powerhouse teams. Jude Bellingham left them a reminder …"
England’s journey to securing their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway, was a gruelling one. But the 23-year-old Bellingham, the youngest England player ever to reach 50 caps, had made this his stage.