Former England captain John Terry has likened Jude Bellingham to French football great Zinedine Zidane, describing the midfielder as the driving force behind England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the FIFA Podcast on Monday, Terry said Bellingham’s influence on the England team mirrors Zidane’s impact during France’s victorious 1998 World Cup campaign and their run to the 2006 final.
“I said at the start of this World Cup, he reminds me of Zidane. He’s dragging this team through at the moment. I think he’s world class. Also, you listen to him off the pitch, he’s got a real calmness about him as well,” Terry said.
Bellingham has been instrumental in England’s knockout-stage campaign, scoring four goals. He netted twice in the Three Lions’ 3-2 round-of-16 victory over co-hosts Mexico City before adding another brace in the quarter-final win against Norway.
Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva also praised the 23-year-old, agreeing with Terry’s comparison and highlighting Bellingham’s ability to rise to the occasion in high-profile matches.
“In these big matches, that’s when you need your big players to step up, and he has shown that over the past two years, before with Real Madrid and now in the World Cup,” Silva said.
“I think there’s a lot more to come from him. He’s in a way similar to Zidane and the comparison JT made with Zidane makes sense.”
With his two goals against Norway, Bellingham became the first midfielder to score six goals at a FIFA World Cup.
England will face defending champions Argentina in the semi-finals, but Terry expressed confidence that the Three Lions have what it takes to book a place in the final.
“I’m not worried about Argentina, if I’m honest.
“I don’t look at Argentina and sit here being worried about them being better than us.
“I think, man-for-man, we’re better than Argentina.
“You know what I like about this England side at the minute? We’ve had big moments,” he said.
