Henderson: Bellingham Is ‘Loved’ by England Teammates and Will Be Their World Cup X-Factor
Jordan Henderson has offered a warm and emphatic defence of Jude Bellingham ahead of England’s World Cup 2026 campaign, saying the Real Madrid midfielder is adored within the squad and will be central to the team’s hopes in the tournament.
Speaking to reporters, as reported by The Guardian, Henderson dismissed the ongoing speculation about Bellingham’s standing in the England setup — including suggestions of tension with manager Thomas Tuchel — and said those narratives simply do not reflect reality inside the camp.
“I know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence he is on this team,” Henderson said, adding that Bellingham “really gives us the X-factor” and is “a huge, huge player for us in this tournament.”
Henderson recalled handing Bellingham his first England cap around five years ago in a match away at Middlesbrough, and said the progress the 21-year-old has made since then has been “incredible.” He also pointed out that people often forget just how young Bellingham still is, noting that during training rondos — where the youngest player starts in the middle — Bellingham frequently goes in before players Henderson feels should be there ahead of him.
Perhaps just as notably, Henderson praised Bellingham’s character off the pitch. During England’s pre-tournament training camp, the midfielder reportedly took the younger call-ups — including Rio Ngumoha, Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri and Josh King — under his wing. Henderson said Bellingham even handed Ngumoha his first cap after a match, describing it as a glimpse into who Bellingham really is behind the scenes.
On the tactical front, Bellingham is battling Morgan Rogers for the No 10 role in England’s opening group game against Croatia on Wednesday. Henderson was diplomatic, calling both players “top players” he would not want to face, and emphasising that each has a role to play whether starting or coming off the bench.
For UK fans tracking England’s progress, the selection decision at No 10 could shape how Gareth— sorry, how Tuchel’s side lines up for the remainder of the group stage. Keep up with all the latest via our World Cup 2026 hub and check the live standings as the tournament gets under way.