After Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for England against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, he and Harry Kane were the last to peel away from the celebrations. Left behind by their team-mates after the first wave, the pair stood side by side, arms outstretched as they soaked in the acclaim from the England supporters who had flocked to Mexico City. It – along with the team singing Wonderwall with fans after matches – will be one of the defining images of their 2026 World Cup campaign.
That image captures a deeper truth: England's fortunes in this tournament are increasingly intertwined with the form and impact of their two star men. Between them, Kane and Bellingham have scored 10 of England’s 11 goals at the World Cup – Marcus Rashford scored the other as a substitute in the 4-2 win against Croatia in the opener. That means the duo have contributed a remarkable 90.9% of the team’s total attacking output, more than any other side left in the tournament.
“Kane and Bellingham have scored 10 of England's 11 World Cup goals, a 90.9% share – highest of any team left in the tournament.”
The reliance was stark in the hard-fought 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16. Less than two minutes after the opener, Kane supplied the assist for Bellingham to complete a quickfire double that silenced the home supporters. Then came Kane’s moment: with his team a player down after Jarell Quansah’s red card and Mexico resurgent, the 32-year-old calmly converted from the penalty spot to score what proved to be the winner. Few players are more reliable than him from 12 yards out.
Kane is responsible for 34.6% of England’s expected goals (xG) and Bellingham has contributed another 20.3%. Together, they have generated more than half of England’s attacking threat (54.9% of total xG). Kane has also attempted 23.8% of England’s shots and 31.3% of their efforts on target, while Bellingham has registered a further 28.1% of the team’s shots on target – underlining their importance to Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Tournament favourites France come second in duopoly dependency at 78.6%, with Kylian Mbappe (seven goals) and Ousmane Dembele (four) scoring 11 of their 14 goals. But for England, the margin is even narrower. Erling Haaland and Norway will provide another formidable test when the nations meet in Miami on Saturday. Just how far England can go may depend on whether their dynamic duo can keep carrying the load.