World Cup 2026: Jude Bellingham best at World Cup and Harry Kane can destroy Argentina
Wayne Rooney has praised Jude Bellingham as the standout player of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting his energy and impact on England's performance. England is set to face Argentina in the semi-finals, with expectations high for key players like Harry Kane.
Why it matters
The World Cup is a major global cultural and sporting event, and expert analysis of player performance influences public discourse and betting markets.
Figure caption, Bellingham scores extra-time winner as England reach semi-finals
Jude Bellingham has been the best player at the World Cup so far, says former England striker Wayne Rooney.
Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham has scored six goals in six games for England, leaving him only two behind France's Kylian Mbappe and Argentina's Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot standings.
Erling Haaland, whose Norway side were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals, is on seven while Three Lions captain Harry Kane is level with Bellingham.
England play Messi's Argentina on Wednesday in the second semi-final (20:00 BST). The match is live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, and BBC Radio 5 Live.
"In terms of best in the world I think you're looking at someone like Mbappe or Haaland," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
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