Real Madrid superstar center midfielder Jude Bellingham and Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland have a close friendship dating back to their days together at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, and whlie the plans of them both continuing their careers together as teammates on a bigger stage in Madrid did not end up panning out, even Haaland's father and Dortmund CEO Aki Watzke have cautioned world football fans not to rule out a reunion one day.
For now, Bellingham and Haaland got to have a brief reunion at the 2026 World Cup, as their countries, Norway and England, met up in the quarterfinals. Haaland did not score this time around, but Bellingham brought in two decisive goals to help England come from behind and win 2-1, showing the instincts of a striker for his second straight brace in the knockout stages.
It was another display of unbridled excellence from the best midfielder in the world, as Bellingham also played decent defense without picking up a yellow card and a suspension for the World Cup semifinals. On the ball, he was crushing it, as per usual, galloping past the Norway defense with seven combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn for the Three Lions cause.
Jude Bellingham criticisms are illogical
After the game, Erling Haaland showed his old friend quite a bit of respect, and he took a swipe at the insane criticisms Jude has received over the last couple of years, including from the media in his own country of England.
Haaland said of Jude Bellingham to reporters after the match, via the Madrid Zone, "Sometimes they criticize Jude Bellingham for not scoring enough goals, but he does not deserve that criticism. He's a midfielder, and yet he still scores, goes forward, dribbles...He's world class"
The Norwegian sensation could not have summed up Bellingham's situation any better. And imagine people still criticizing Bellingham for not scoring enough goals when he is breaking England and all time World Cup records with six goals in his tournament alone as a midfielder and seven his career all before turning 24 years of age.
As Haaland says, Bellingham really does it all. He is the best midfielder in the world at scoring goals, going forward, and progressing the ball, and he is showing it on the biggest international stage at the 2026 World Cup. If Haaland is praising Madrid's most unfairly criticized stars, Jude and Vinicius Junior, to angle for the dream move, then he is doing wonderfully well.
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