Jude Bellingham Becomes Youngest England Player to Reach 50 Caps

Jude Bellingham has broken a long-standing England record by becoming the youngest men's player to earn 50 international caps. The Real Madrid midfielder achieved the milestone at 22 years and 359 days old, surpassing Wayne Rooney, who was 23 years and 159 days when he reached his 50th cap. The feat occurred during England's 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match against Ghana in Boston.

Bellingham made his senior debut for the Three Lions in November 2020 at just 17 years and 137 days old, coming off the bench in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 protocols. Since then, he has participated in four major tournaments, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in his first 49 appearances. His most recent goal came in England's opening World Cup match, a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.

His record-breaking run reflects England's recent trend of giving young players regular opportunities on the international stage. Four of the seven youngest players to reach 50 caps for England have done so since 2020. Bellingham's consistency and ability to perform in high-pressure moments have been hallmarks of his early career, with four of his seven England goals scored at major tournaments — the highest ratio (57%) of any England player with more than five goals.

Bellingham's journey includes memorable contributions at major tournaments, such as his first England goal against Iran at the 2022 World Cup, a looping header from a Luke Shaw cross. During the 2024 European Championships, he scored a stunning overhead kick in stoppage time against Slovakia to keep England in the tournament. Now with 50 caps already under his belt, the midfielder, still only 22, has many more years ahead to add to his remarkable international career.