Bellingham equals England assist record with Croatia display

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has continued his exceptional form for England, equalling a national team record during Thursday's Nations League clash with Croatia at Wembley.

The 21-year-old started for Thomas Tuchel's side and provided the assist for Morgan Rogers' opener as England secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory, with Harry Kane adding the second goal to complete the comeback after Croatia had taken an early lead.

Record-equalling calendar year

Bellingham's pass for Rogers marked his sixth assist for the Three Lions in 2026, matching a feat last achieved by Raheem Sterling in 2019. According to Opta statistics, no England player has registered more assists in a single calendar year during that period.

The Real Madrid star has been in stellar creative form for his country this year, demonstrating the playmaking quality that has made him such a vital component of Carlo Ancelotti's midfield at the Santiago Bernabéu. His ability to combine goals with creativity has become a hallmark of his game at both club and international level.

Strong start under Tuchel

The victory represents another positive result for England under new manager Thomas Tuchel, with Bellingham clearly thriving in the German coach's system. His performance against Croatia underlined why he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet for both club and country.

For Real Madrid supporters, Bellingham's continued excellence with England is encouraging ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. The midfielder will now return to the Spanish capital hoping to carry this creative spark into Los Blancos' upcoming La Liga and Champions League commitments.

With six assists already banked in 2026 and several months of international football still to come, Bellingham has the opportunity to set a new England record outright before the year concludes. His combination of youth, technical ability and tactical intelligence continues to make him one of European football's most complete midfielders.

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