John Terry: Bellingham follows Zidane's footsteps and is not afraid of Argentina

In a scene reflecting great confidence in England’s future at the 2026 World Cup, former Three Lions captain John Terry praised young star Jude Bellingham, affirming that he has become a symbol of new hope and that the semi-final clash with Argentina raises no concerns for him.

Since the start of the tournament, Bellingham has played a pivotal role in England’s campaign, scoring a brace against Norway in the quarter-finals and another against Mexico in the round of 16, leading his team to a historic victory in Mexico City. These goals made him the first midfielder to score six goals in a single World Cup edition, an achievement that places him among the game’s elite.

Terry did not hesitate to compare him to French legend Zinedine Zidane, who led France to glory in 1998 and reached the final in 2006, insisting that Bellingham is “a world-class player” and that his calm demeanor off the pitch gives him a well-rounded personality that enhances his influence on the field.

This view was not unique to Terry; Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva shared it, emphasizing that Bellingham resembles Zidane in his style and has proven his capabilities both at Real Madrid and in the current tournament, asserting that the comparison with Zidane is entirely logical.

As the anticipated match against Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, approaches, Terry expressed strong confidence in England’s ability to prevail, stating, “I don’t look at Argentina and feel they are better than us; I believe we have a stronger team.” He added, “We’ve experienced great moments and have a good squad, but it seems everything is going our way now. This is England’s time.”

With this statement, Terry places his trust in Bellingham’s generation, viewing the current circumstances as a golden opportunity for England to embrace the world title for the first time since 1966.