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As Jordan Pickford punched away yet another Mexican cross and the Australian referee blew the final whistle, Jude Bellingham collapsed to the turf inside England’s penalty area — battered, bruised, and utterly spent. Often accused of theatrics, this time the Real Madrid star’s emotion was entirely justified.

The stage could not have been grander — the World Cup’s most famous stadium, the Estadio Azteca. England were the villains of the night, facing the co-hosts in their near-impenetrable fortress. At an altitude of 7,200 metres, Bellingham wasn’t catching his breath; he was running on pure adrenaline.

No one rose to the occasion quite like England’s talismanic attacking midfielder. It wasn’t only about his goals, as magnificent as they were. His tireless tackles, outstanding control under pressure, relentless off-the-ball movement, vocal leadership, and dazzling footwork made his performance complete.

When the big screens showed Bellingham during the pre-match downpour, a simple wipe of his brow hinted at what was to come. It was as if he knew this would be his night.

Whether making his debut in El Clásico, starring in a Champions League final, or dazzling on the international stage, Bellingham — just 23 years old and already England’s youngest player to reach 50 caps — seems to thrive when the lights shine brightest.

The Azteca was more than a venue; it was a cauldron of emotion. Thunder rumbled above and in the stands, and the hour-long delay only heightened anticipation. The crowd’s message was straightforward: thunderous cheers for Mexico, deafening boos for England.

For all of England’s eventual dominance, Mexico were the better side for the first 30 minutes. But then came a turning point: a powerful run from Declan Rice, a deft chipped cross from Bukayo Saka, and a diving header from Bellingham to open the scoring.

It appeared simple in execution, yet Bellingham’s subtle feint — shaping to move near post before darting back post — left his marker Roberto Alvarado stranded. Without that movement, Saka’s cross would have landed in empty space.

Just 98 seconds later, Bellingham struck again. England regained possession from kick-off, Bellingham combined with Harry Kane — a perfect one-two — and outmuscled Erik Lira to double the lead. The last player to score twice at the Cabecera Norte end for England? Diego Maradona, back in 1986.

Bellingham’s influence extended beyond the goals. A crucial block just before half-time prevented a certain equaliser. His audacious dribbling through midfield, his daring long-range attempt from halfway that forced goalkeeper Raul Rangel to scramble, and his clever time-wasting near the corner flag in stoppage time all underlined his intelligence and composure.

His now-customary gesture of firing up the opposition supporters after holding the ball in the corner has become one of the enduring images of this World Cup.

It was a majestic performance — one of the finest ever by an England player at a World Cup — brimming with technical brilliance and unyielding determination. The fact that Thomas Tuchel had dropped him from the squad just eight months earlier now seems almost absurd. At full-time, as England’s players sprinted towards their jubilant fans, Bellingham made a beeline for Tuchel, and the two embraced warmly — a powerful image of reconciliation.

Tuchel now oversees two of England’s sharpest weapons in Bellingham and Kane — both scoring again — and their friendly rivalry continues to drive the team forward. It’s a combination that has England supporters, whether celebrating in Mexico City or staying up late back home, daring to believe that something extraordinary might just be unfolding this summer.