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 teammates after the first wave, the pair stood side by side, arms outstretched, soaking in the acclaim from supporters who had flocked to Mexico City. It has become one of the defining images of England's 2026 World Cup campaign.
The duo's importance was laid bare in the 3-2 last-16 victory: less than two minutes after Bellingham's opener, Kane supplied the assist for the Real Madrid midfielder to complete a quickfire double that silenced the home crowd. Then, with England a player down after Jarell Quansah's red card and Mexico resurgent, the 32-year-old captain calmly converted a penalty to score what proved to be the winner.
“Kane and Bellingham have scored 10 of England's 11 World Cup goals, 90.9% of the team's total.”
Between them, Kane and Bellingham have accounted for 10 of England's 11 goals at the tournament – Marcus Rashford scored the other as a substitute to seal a 4-2 win against Croatia in the opener. Kane has six goals, Bellingham four, meaning the pair have contributed a remarkable 90.9% of the team's total attacking output, more than any other side left in the competition.
Kane is responsible for 34.6% of England's expected goals (xG), while Bellingham contributes another 20.3% – together more than half the team's attacking threat. The captain has also attempted 23.8% of England's shots and 31.3% of efforts on target; Bellingham has registered a further 28.1% of shots on target.
Thomas Tuchel's side now face Erling Haaland and Norway in Miami on Saturday, but questions remain over how sustainable this reliance on two players can be. England's World Cup ambitions appear increasingly intertwined with the form and impact of their dynamic duo.