In the process of queuing up for England at Euro 2024, Jude Bellingham shattered a long-standing record that had been held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who is only 20 years old, continued his impressive form this season by heading in from Bukayo Saka’s cross after 13 minutes in Germany to put his team ahead of Serbia.

In the system of manager Gareth Southgate, he was positioned behind Harry Kane, with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka flanking him. This attack was a source of excitement for supporters prior to the tournament.

Bellingham, who had recently won the Champions League, was the player who generated the most excitement among supporters. He scored his team’s first goal early on. 

Bellingham achieved the distinction of being the youngest player to participate in three international significant tournaments by participating in the game. He also featured in the Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

Bellingham was named in the squad at the age of 17 after benefiting from the year-long delay of Euro 2020 due to Covid-19. He first emerged on the scene at Birmingham in the Championship at the age of 16.

In playing against England’s opener against Croatia, he became the youngest Englishman to play at a major tournament and the youngest player ever to play at a European Championship, aged 17 years and 349 days.

He was more prominently involved in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he started all five of his team’s games at the age of 19.

He is currently one of the first names on the squad sheet and is widely considered to be England’s most important attacking player.

In contrast, Ronaldo participated in the World Cup in 2006, as well as the Euro 2004 and 2008 tournaments.

Bellingham had surpassed the record by three years by the time Euro 2008 rolled around, as he was 19 years old at the time of the 2004 tournament.