Jude Bellingham set new European record with start against Croatia
By starting against Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, England midfielder Jude Bellingham became the youngest European player in football history to appear in four major international tournaments.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham made football history on Wednesday after being named in Thomas Tuchel’s starting lineup against Croatia.
At just 22 years and 353 days old, the Real Madrid superstar officially became the youngest European player ever to feature in four different major international tournaments, surpassing the previous record.
Deployed in his preferred attacking midfield role at Dallas Stadium, Bellingham’s milestone appearance spans consecutive selections across the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup.
This historic Group L achievement eclipses the short-lived record established only days prior by Germany’s Jamal Musiala, further cementing Bellingham’s status as a generational icon.
