Michael Owen backs Jude Bellingham to become England’s greatest ever
Michael Owen believes Jude Bellingham could one day be regarded as England’s greatest-ever player, backing Roy Keane’s view that the Real Madrid midfielder has the tools to reach football’s highest level.
England greats at a glance
| Item | Figure | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham England caps | 60 | Midfielder remains a central figure for club and country |
| 2026 World Cup goals | 7 | Bellingham returned to the global spotlight |
| Harry Kane international goals | 91 | England captain continues to extend his scoring record |
| Kane and Shilton record | 1 appearance | Kane is one match from Peter Shilton’s England caps mark |
Owen said Bellingham’s blend of physical power, running capacity, technique and mentality sets him apart. The former Ballon d’Or winner also pointed to the 23-year-old’s record of producing decisive moments in major games.
“He’s sensational,” Owen said. “He has something very special: his physique, his ability to run, his skill and his mindset.
“He steps up on the big stage. He gets goals, important goals, and has real class. He is consistently playing at the very top level, which will help him stay there.”
Keane has forecast that Bellingham can become one of the game’s elite midfielders, and Owen agreed that England already possess two potential all-time greats in Bellingham and captain Harry Kane.
“He is a match-winner and a game-changer,” Owen added. “If he keeps going as he is, then in five or six years we could potentially be discussing whether he is England’s most influential, most talented or best player ever.”
From Birmingham breakthrough to Madrid talisman
Bellingham’s rise began at Birmingham City, where he entered the first team at 16. The Championship club later retired his No. 22 shirt when he joined Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
Three increasingly impressive seasons in Germany earned him a move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 for a fee worth more than £100 million. He won both La Liga and the Champions League in his first campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu.
His early Madrid impact quickly brought Ballon d’Or discussion, with Bellingham’s energy, goalscoring and ability to deliver in pressure situations making him one of the sport’s defining figures.
Injuries have interrupted parts of his progress since that debut season in Spain, but his seven-goal return at the 2026 World Cup put him firmly back at the centre of the international game. He had already created one of England’s standout moments at Euro 2024 with his “who else” celebration.
What happens next
Bellingham’s England record has already reached 60 appearances, while Kane’s pursuit of history continues. The Bayern Munich forward has 91 international goals and needs only one more cap to move beyond Shilton’s appearance record.
England’s greatest-player debate has previously featured Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. Kane’s goals and longevity could yet make him the leading candidate, but Bellingham has time to challenge him if he can lead England to the major international prize the country has chased since the 1966 World Cup.
