England booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals after defeating Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami, and once again it was Jude Bellingham who stole the show. The Real Madrid star scored both of England's goals and etched his name into the history books with three remarkable records.
Match Summary: England 2-1 Norway
Norway took the lead in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup capitalized on a defensive mistake to put the Scandinavian side ahead. England responded just before halftime, with Bellingham finishing calmly to level the scores.
The second half remained tense, with both sides creating chances and Norway even having a goal disallowed after a VAR review. With the score locked at 1-1, the match headed into extra time.
Just three minutes into the additional period, Bellingham struck again. The midfielder reacted quickest to a loose ball after a goalkeeping error from Ørjan Nyland and fired home the winner to send England into the last four of the tournament.
Record No. 1 – Joining Pelé in World Cup History
At 23 years and 12 days old, Bellingham became the second-youngest player ever to score two or more goals in successive FIFA World Cup knockout matches. The only player to achieve the feat at a younger age was Brazilian legend Pelé, who did so during the 1958 World Cup at just 17 years and 249 days old.
Record No. 2 – Level With Gary Lineker
Bellingham now has six non-penalty goals at a single major international tournament for England, equalling the record set by Gary Lineker.
What makes the achievement even more extraordinary is that Bellingham is a midfielder, while Lineker reached the mark as a striker.
Record No. 3 – Surpassing Wayne Rooney
The 23-year-old has now scored eight goals for England in major international tournaments, moving ahead of Wayne Rooney on the all-time list.
Only three English players have scored more goals in major tournaments: Harry Kane, Gary Lineker, and Alan Shearer.
A Blockbuster Semi-Final Awaits
England's victory sets up one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. Jude Bellingham will now come face-to-face with Lionel Messi as the Three Lions prepare for a blockbuster FIFA World Cup semi-final clash against Argentina.
With Bellingham in the form of his life and England dreaming of World Cup glory, all eyes will now turn to what promises to be an unforgettable showdown.
More Records for England:
