Jude Bellingham is currently riding an unprecedented wave of adoration in England, with his name on everyone's lips and his face plastered on pub screens nationwide. It's been less than nine months since he was facing the music - or rather, the criticism - from then-England manager Thomas Tuchel, who had publicly questioned his inclusion in the World Cup squad.
Remember those headlines? "Bellingham benched" and "Tuchel's tough call on England star"? The media machine was already turning against him, with one publication even suggesting England would be better off without the 'maverick midfielder'. But Bellingham wasn't having it. After that 4-2 win against Croatia in Dallas, he fired back: "It's good to put some of the noise aside, and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us win football matches."
The whispers about Tuchel's reservations had been doing the rounds for months. After shoulder surgery last September, Bellingham missed key qualifiers where England achieved their best performance under Tuchel - a 5-0 drubbing of Serbia, with Morgan Rogers impressing in the number 10 role. Then, when Bellingham returned to fitness at Real Madrid, Tuchel initially snubbed him from subsequent camps. The manager even went as far as calling his on-field behaviour "repulsive", although he later claimed it was a slip of the tongue - or rather, a verbal faux pas.
When Bellingham finally got his call-up to the World Cup squad, you could've forgiven fans for thinking he might be backseat bound. But Tuchel's decision to play him against Croatia wasn't quite as straightforward as it seemed - far from it. The manager described the choice between Bellingham and Rogers as a "50-50 call", downplaying the midfielder's reputation for rising to the occasion in high-pressure matches. How prescient that now seems, given Bellingham's subsequent impact.
Let's not forget how he became England's £87 million signing at just 19 - and then went on to win the Champions League with Real Madrid at a still-young 20. At 22, he's already participating in his fourth major international tournament - a feat achieved by few legends, including Steven Gerrard (30) and Frank Lampard (36).
Bellingham's performances throughout this World Cup have been nothing short of phenomenal. His goal against Croatia ignited England's strongest 45 minutes, he broke the deadlock against Panama, and his double against Norway in the quarter-final - well, it was a masterclass in skill and instinct. And let's not even get started on his influence beyond the stats: the way he dominates games, controls tempo, and sets the tone for his teammates.