John Terry Believes Jude Bellingham Must Emulate Zidane to Help England Win World Cup John Terry, the former Chelsea captain and England legend, has expressed his belief that Jude Bellingham must unlock his full potential to give England a chance of winning a second World Cup title since 1966. The 44-year-old defender, who earned 78 caps for his country and played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, compared the 22-year-old midfielder to the legendary Zinedine Zidane, citing his technical ability and vision as key traits that could elevate England’s campaign. England’s World Cup campaign kicks off against Croatia on Wednesday, followed by matches against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27. Terry emphasized that Bellingham’s role in the tournament is critical, arguing that the young talent’s world-class attributes and potential for growth could be pivotal for the Three Lions. “Bellingham has got that bit of class; a world-class player. Madrid signed him from a very young age. He’s only gonna get better,” Terry said. Terry highlighted the dynamic between Bellingham and England manager Thomas Tuchel, noting an unexplained connection between the pair. “There seems to be something between him and Tuchel; not sure what it is. But I hope he has a big impact on this World Cup. He reminds me of Zidane, the way he glides around the pitch, he scores and creates goals. I’m excited to see him.” While Terry acknowledged Zidane’s status as one of the greatest midfielders in history, he stressed that Bellingham is not yet on the same level. “Not yet, but when I watch him, he glides on his feet and carries himself in a way that I love to watch players play football.” Terry also praised Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who had a strong season, and suggested he could step in if Bellingham is not selected.#jude_bellingham #morgan_rogers #zinedine_zidane #thomas_tuchel #john_terry
John Terry lauds Bafana Bafana star Mbekezeli Mbokazi's mentality Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry praised South Africa and Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, calling him a potential future star in world football. The 20-year-old is expected to start at centre-back for Bafana Bafana in the FIFA World Cup opener against Mexico, a match Terry predicted would end 1-1. South Africa head coach Hugo Broos compared Mbokazi’s attributes to those of former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who Broos gave his debut at Anderlecht. Terry, a former Premier League defender, has since become an admirer of Mbokazi, highlighting his “top, top player” status and “positive mentality.” Mbokazi’s rise to prominence includes a standout performance for Bafana Bafana at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. During the tournament, he delivered a commanding display in a 1-0 group stage defeat to Egypt, where he won all eight of his ground duels against Mohamed Salah, a former Chelsea teammate of Terry. Despite a controversial penalty awarded to Egypt, Mbokazi’s resilience and composure under pressure earned praise. The match, held on Boxing Day, marked a key moment in his international career. After joining Chicago Fire from Orlando Pirates, Mbokazi has excelled in Major League Soccer (MLS), becoming the second South African to be selected for the MLS All-Star team. He is the first to make the team as a starter, joining legends like Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min. The All-Star game will take place in Charlotte on July 29, with Mbokazi and other top players competing against Mexico’s Liga MX representatives. Broos initially criticized Mbokazi’s move to MLS, arguing he should have stayed in Europe.#africa_cup_of_nations #bafana_bafana #chicago_fire #john_terry #mbekezeli_mbokazi
