Real Madrid superstar center midfielder Jude Bellingham had another tremendous performance at the 2026 World Cup, filling up the stat sheet and recording a goal and an assist. Except, he didn't have to play as a No. 10 in the England lineup for Thomas Tuchel to make a huge impact on the attacking end.
England raised some eyebrows after playing Jude in a deeper role as a No. 6/8 hybrid next to Elliot Anderson behind Morgan Rogers in that 10 spot, as Jude played so well in his customary role as the playmaker in the first two World Cup matches.
Bellingham had the same attacking output with even more progression, creativity, and defending. In addition to the goal and the assist, Bellingham had four key passes, four fouls drawn, four tackles, and three dribbles completed.
Jude Bellingham wants to win more than anything
But Bellingham is not surprised at all he thrived in this role. He told reporters after the 2-0 England win over Panama, via Abraham P. Romero of El Mundo, "It's not a matter of confidence. At Madrid I play a bit lower down and here like 10-8, higher up. But I don't care where I play, what I want is what's best for my team".
Now that is the choice quote right there and something everyone needs to understand about Jude Bellingham and the core of who he is. He is a team player who wants to win more badly than anything else in this world, and he will do anything to win.
So when people say Jude needs to play as a No. 10 to score more goals like he did in 2023/24 when he won the Champions League in his first season at Real Madrid as the club's outstanding player and when they say he needs to play as the No. 6 or 8 to help the team accommodate the playmakers, it does not matter.
Because Bellingham's output is going to be at the highest in either case. He is going to find ways to impact the game with goals, assists, progression, and, yes, creativity, all the while defending to his fullest.
And take it from the man himself, the role is not what is important. Bellingham has been in an 8 or a 10 role with multiple teams, dating back to Borussia Dortmund. What matters the most and what Jose Mourinho has to remember when defining his role is the importance Jude gets and the freedom he gets no matter where he plays to be able to impact the game in all the ways that he can. The more responsibility he has, the more he thrives.
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