Bellingham sets new record with England half-century

England's Jude Bellingham has set a new record for the Three Lions after winning his 50th cap for the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the group stage game with Ghana.

The Real Madrid midfielder was named in Thomas Tuchel's team in Boston to reach the half-century of caps while also becoming the youngest men's player to reach 50 England appearances.

He joins Bukayo Saka, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling as the only England players to earn 50 caps before their 25th birthday, following on from Saka winning his 50th cap less than a week earlier against Croatia.

Saka came on as a second-half substitute against Croatia in England's World Cup opener and provided an assist in the 4-2 victory. At the age of 24 years and 285 days he became just the fourth England men's player to reach the landmark before turning 25.

The Arsenal winger made his senior debut against Wales in October 2020 and has since established himself as one of the first names on the England teamsheet, featuring at two World Cups, the delayed EURO 2020 and EURO 2024.

England have won 30 of Saka's first 50 appearances, while the winger has contributed 15 goals during that period.

Only Rooney, Owen and Sterling had reached 50 caps at a younger age than Saka, but Bellingham sets a new record and becomes England's youngest-ever player to reach 50 appearances, aged at 22 years and 359 days. Rooney had held the record since April 2009, when he brought up his 50th cap aged 23 years and 159 days.

And the caps record comes hot on the heels of Bellingham becoming the youngest European player in history to feature at four major men's tournaments (World Cups and EUROs) when he featured against Croatia, beating the record set by Germany's Jamal Musiala who had featured in their World Cup opener against Curaçao. 

Youngest men's players to reach 50 caps

Jude Bellingham age v Ghana: 22 years, 359 days
Wayne Rooney: 23 years, 159 days
Michael Owen: 23 years 179 days
Raheem Sterling: 24 years 180 days
Bukayo Saka: 24 years, 285 days
Marcus Rashford: 25 years 34 days
Declan Rice: 25 years 72 days
Ashley Cole: 25 years 187 days
Bobby Moore: 25 years 218 days
Ray Wilkins: 25 years 284 days
Alan Ball: 26 years 3 days
Steven Gerrard: 26 years 99 days

Youngest European players to play in four major tournaments

Jude Bellingham (England): 22y 353d
Jamal Musiala (Germany): 23y 108d
Pedri (Spain): 23y 202d
Jérémy Doku (Belgium): 24y 19d
Michael Owen (England): 24y 182d
Lukas Podolski (Germany): 25y 9d