Jude Bellingham Joins Elite Club With World Cup Knockout Stage Brace At Azteca

Jude Bellingham joined an elite World Cup scoring club after striking twice in England’s Round of 16 match versus Mexico at Mexico City Stadium on Sunday. He netted two goals in two minutes, becoming the first player to score a brace at the venue since 1986. The article compares his feat with Diego Maradona’s famous World Cup brace at Azteca, when Argentina beat England 2-1 in the 1986 quarterfinal, with both goals coming within four minutes. It also notes other knockout-stage braces at Estadio Azteca, including Gerd Müller (1970 semifinal), Gary Lineker (1986 Round of 16), and Maradona again against Belgium (1986 semifinal). The piece places Bellingham’s performance in a rare, tournament-defining context.