After little more than ten minutes in the Al Bayt Stadium, he turned to a section of the England supporters and told them to raise their game. Jude Bellingham is 19.
Soon after, he was having a bit of a ruck with Krepin Diatta as the Senegalese took few early prisoners. Jude Bellingham is 19.
At one stage, he was barking advice to Harry Kane and then to Harry Maguire, appearing to suggest they should sharpen up. Jude Bellingham is 19.
Whatever unfolds from this point, this World Cup has confirmed what so many already knew - Jude Bellingham will be front and centre of the English national team.
No wonder Jordan Henderson, after applying the calmest of finishes to the Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s assist, wrapped his arm around Bellingham’s shoulder, looked to the crowd and pointed at the top of the teenager’s head. This, Henderson might as well have been saying, is where the crown is going.
Bellingham was not the only architect of that opening goal, Kane is worthy of an honourable mention for the initial defence-opening pass.
But Bellingham’s elegant stride and control? Bellingham’s vision to spot Henderson haring into prime position? Bellingham’s left-footed reverse pass that Henderson converted without breaking stride?
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Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)Different class, different class, different class. And you had seen nothing yet. That Bellingham does not get an assist for England’s second is statistically criminal. There is such a thing as a pre-assist, apparently - well, this was one of the finest pre-assists you are ever likely to see.
The brave intercepting header just outside his own penalty area was just the start, the run past a challenging midfielder the appetiser for a final pass timed and delivered to Phil Foden to perfection.
Foden’s first-touch ball was confirmation of the precocious talent in this England squad and Kane marked his young team-mates’ brilliance with a thumping first goal of his World Cup campaign. It was glorious.
Encapsulated in that Bellingham contribution to England’s second was everything that makes him the most desirable midfield commodity likely to be on the market next summer.
Courage, speed, calmness, skill, right foot, left foot, the complete package. This is a young player who will be in the same position as Erling Haaland was, able to take his pick from every single elite club in Europe.
And only the cost of petrol back in the UK has risen at a higher rate than the price of Bellingham in recent times. He is a player who always seems to have plenty in the tank but his runs are never pointless, always giving team-mates a decent option.
Bellingham and England now face a far sterner challenge in Saturday’s quarter-final but it goes without saying the teenager will relish it because he has been made for the big stage since leaving Birmingham City for Germany at the age of 17.
He has captained Borussia Dortmund, he will captain his next big club and he will captain England, of that, there is no doubt.
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Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)Whether or not it will be on Gareth Southgate’s watch will remain to be seen but why would this England manager abdicate when not only does he have Bellingham to work with, he has the likes of Foden, 22, and 21-year-old Bukayo Saka to work with?
The French might well prove to be too good for Southgate’s side but, dare I say it, there is a golden English generation that will get better and better.
When Saka and Foden celebrated their combination, Bellingham ambled over and patted them calmly as though he had seen it all before, done it all before, routine. Jude Bellingham is 19. Frightening.
