Why Jude Bellingham is now England’s biggest star at the World Cup in Qatar

England are heading into a game for the first time at this World Cup as underdogs, and even though the Three Lions have won three of their last four at the tournament, they always knew the true test of their tournament will come against a French side with an attacking colussus in Kylian Mbappe.

England will hope that Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is quick enough to stop the PSG star, but the battle in the middle of the park could be decided by 19-year-old Jude Bellingham, who has shown bravery and leadership at a time many teenagers would still be finding their feet in higher education.

He provides energy, technique, goals and assists and in football, you are either scoring a goal, creating a goal or stopping a goal - the Dortmund star racks up incredible high marks when it comes to all those parameters.

Here is everything you need to know about the new England superstar as he prepares for the biggest game of his international career:

Joined Birmingham City at the age of eight

The Dortmund star’s path has always been plotted in football and by age the of eight he was already at the academy in Birmingham. By 10 he’d shown enough for the coaches to start taking him seriously as the next big thing.

He made his under-18 debut as a 14-year-old and scored the winner on his debut for the under-18 and 15 and later under 23.

Birmingham City retired his number 22

One of the greatest respect you can pay to a footballer is to retire the jersey number he’s won and the youngster has had the number 22 at Birmingham hanged for him as a show of his unique talent and contribution to the midland based club.

He was vital in their EFL campaign and left the decision on where he would play next to him and his family to decide as both Manchester United and Dortmund fought out for his signature.

Only the third youngest to have ever made their England debut

Belingham made his England debut when he was only 17-years-old against the Republic of Ireland and it’s fair to say that he’s never looked back since for both club and country. Only Theo Walcot and Wayne Rooney made their England debuts earlier than the Dortmund star, and there is a genuine feeling that he could prove event more vital than the latter for his country.

He is leading England to their dream World Cup in the desert and if he can continue his form, he’d be able to achieve something both Theo and Wayne could only dream of.

The most expensive 17-year-old in history, now worth £150m

The moment Dortmund won the race to sign Jude Bellingham it was clear he was meant for big things. According to Sky Sports, the German club paid £25 million for his services - that is the most any club on the planet has paid for a 17-year-old and he’s now worth a staggering £150 million.

At 19, he scored England’s first goal at the World Cup, and has an assist too as his numbers for club and country continue to build. A unique blend of veracity and control added to a leadership style that you normally don’t get from a 19-year-old.

Second youngest England scorer at the World Cup

Everyone talks about his goal against Iran, but that also made history as he became only the second youngest England goalscorer at the World Cup.

Only Michael Owen has scored for England at a younger age in a World Cup, and there is no hiding from the fact he will have to continue his fine form if England go on and win their first World Cup since 1966.