Bellingham named England's player of the year again after seven-goal World Cup 2026

Second year running, no surprises here. Jude Bellingham has been voted England's player of the year by the fans once again, and this time the award comes with a bagful of goals and a summer English supporters won't forget anytime soon.

The Real Madrid midfielder scored seven goals at the 2026 World Cup, a tally that was enough to hand him the record for the most goals by an Englishman at a single World Cup. That wasn't a one-off or a quirk of the fixture list either: Bellingham showed up exactly when his national team needed him most.

Just look back at the 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, the kind of game played with your heart in your throat, where Bellingham himself scored twice to send his side into the quarterfinals. And as if that weren't enough, he did it again with another brace against Norway in the quarterfinals. Two knockout rounds, four goals from him. That's the type of player who decides tournaments.

England ultimately fell in the semifinals to Argentina, a loss that stung, badly, but Thomas Tuchel's side bounced back to claim third place after beating France 6-4 in the bronze medal match. It was, in fact, the best finish in the Three Lions' history at a World Cup played away from home. Bellingham was there for that too, holding a team together that needed leadership after the setback.

The player himself made no secret of how much the award meant to him, one decided entirely by fan votes.

It feels great. Obviously it's a huge honor to be recognized by the fans again. It's not something you think about when you're playing for your country, but it's definitely a nice addition to a brilliant summer we had.Jude Bellingham

Tuchel, who worked closely with him throughout the tournament, was full of praise when news of the award broke. For the German manager, the midfielder wasn't just crucial for England, he was one of the standout names of the entire World Cup.

I think he was one of the players of the tournament, not just for us but for the whole competition. He lived up to his potential; you could see what a competitor and what a machine he is. He simply thrives under pressure, he loves these moments, he loves these stages, and that brings out the best in him.Thomas Tuchel

With the World Cup now in the rearview mirror, the England squad is looking ahead. This Saturday at Wembley, England host world champions Spain in a heavyweight UEFA Nations League clash. Two more fixtures follow, against Croatia and Czechia, rounding out a demanding calendar in which Bellingham, already crowned the fans' favorite, will remain a central figure.