Bellingham reminds me of Zidane, says Terry ahead of England-Argentina clash

Former England captain John Terry has compared Jude Bellingham to France legend Zinedine Zidane.

Terry described the midfielder as the driving force behind England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on the FIFA Podcast on Monday, Terry said Bellingham’s performances have mirrored Zidane’s influence during France’s 1998 World Cup triumph and their run to the 2006 final.

“I said at the start of this World Cup, he reminds me of Zidane. He’s dragging this team through at the moment. I think he’s world class. Also, you listen to him off the pitch, he’s got a real calmness about him as well,” Terry said.

Bellingham has scored four goals in England’s knockout-stage victories, netting twice in the 3-2 round-of-16 win over co-hosts Mexico City before adding another brace in the quarter-final victory over Norway.

Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva backed Terry’s assessment, saying Bellingham has consistently delivered in major matches.

“In these big matches, that’s when you need your big players to step up, and he has shown that over the past two years, before with Real Madrid and now in the World Cup,” Silva said.

“I think there’s a lot more to come from him. He’s in a way similar to Zidane and the comparison JT made with Zidane makes sense.”

Bellingham’s two goals against Norway made him the first midfielder to score six goals at a FIFA World Cup.

England will now face defending champions Argentina in the semi-finals, but Terry said he is confident the Three Lions can reach the final.

“I’m not worried about Argentina, if I’m honest.

“I don’t look at Argentina and sit here being worried about them being better than us.

“I think, man-for-man, we’re better than Argentina.

“You know what I like about this England side at the minute? We’ve had big moments.

We’ve got a good side but it feels like everything’s going for us. It feels like it’s England’s time,” he concluded.

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.