Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham makes England history with phenomenal four-goal contribution vs Croatia

Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has not put a foot wrong since the World Cup in North America in the summer.

He has been scoring and creating chances for fun for both England and Real Madrid, and that trend has carried into the international break.

Bellingham has produced another reminder of his extraordinary attacking influence, with the Madrid midfielder making England history after recording four goal involvements in a single match, which came against Croatia (1G, 3A).

According to Opta, Bellingham became the first England midfielder to achieve the feat since David Platt recorded four goal involvements against San Marino in February 1993.

That means more than three decades have passed since an England midfielder last managed what Bellingham has just produced.

That statistic is another illustration of why Bellingham cannot simply be judged as a conventional central midfielder.

His ability to arrive around the penalty area, create chances and directly influence goals gives him an attacking dimension that very few midfielders possess.

Four goal involvements in one international match is exceptional regardless of the opposition or circumstances.

Doing something no other England midfielder had managed since 1993 puts the performance on a much higher pedestal.

Mourinho already knows how valuable Bellingham can be when given the freedom to operate close to Madrid’s attack.

His ideal position will always be a dilemma. He has the physical qualities to contribute deeper, the technical ability to help progression and the intelligence to operate between the lines.

However, performances like this are precisely why Madrid should be careful about moving him too far away from goal.

Bellingham’s greatest quality might be that he does not need to dominate possession to dominate a football match. He knows the exact moment to be decisive.

International breaks can often make Madrid nervous, particularly when key players are involved, but Bellingham will return having enjoyed an extraordinary time with England.

The numbers speak for themselves. Madrid possess plenty of attacking talent, but Bellingham is the glue that holds everything together.

Mourinho’s task is to build a structure that maximises that, and judging by Bellingham’s start to the season, he has done it to a large extent.

It remains to be seen whether the England midfielder can sustain his form in the coming weeks and months for Real Madrid.