Bellingham registers England's first three-assist performance since 2021

Jude Bellingham became the first England player to supply three assists in a men's international since November 2021 during Saturday's 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia in Rijeka, BBC Sport reported. The Real Madrid midfielder also scored, giving him four direct goal involvements as England inflicted the heaviest defeat in Croatia's history.

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The previous England player to reach three assists in one match was Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino. For Bellingham, the Croatia match was also the first occasion on which he had been directly involved in more than two goals in a senior England appearance. His contributions included the cross from which Bukayo Saka scored his first goal of the evening.

Bellingham was part of a productive attacking quartet. Harry Kane and Saka each scored twice, while Anthony Gordon contributed both a goal and an assist. Kane's double took his international tally to 89 goals. When the striker was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining, Bellingham took over the captaincy and wore the armband for the rest of the match.

The performance followed Bellingham's selection as England's player of the year for a second successive year. The 23-year-old had also finished as the team's leading scorer at the World Cup with seven goals. England reached the semi-finals of that tournament before finishing third, with their hopes of reaching the final ended by Argentina.

His current position contrasts with October 2025, when Thomas Tuchel omitted him from the England squad and made clear that he would not receive preferential treatment. Bellingham subsequently returned to the squad for the World Cup. Against Croatia, he combined his individual scoring contribution with three assists and a spell leading the side after Kane's substitution.

Tuchel told BBC Sport that he had made adjustments after the World Cup and given players, including Bellingham, considerable responsibility. The head coach presented the Croatia performance as a step forward after the semi-final disappointment. Saka also praised Bellingham's display afterwards, endorsing both his player-of-the-year recognition and his man-of-the-match award in Rijeka.