Asked at Wembley on Tuesday night whether Harry Kane could lift the trophy, Bellingham offered only one line.

“Yeah, who knows? It’s definitely possible.”

The question, put to Bellingham by Hayters TV, came after England’s 3-0 win over Czechia. Kane scored twice and set up a third on his record-equalling 125th cap, matching Peter Shilton’s England appearance mark that had stood for 36 years.

Bellingham was far more forthcoming on his captain than on his own prediction.

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“Nothing he ever does surprises me,” he said. “Such an amazing role model, such an amazing guy and an honour to share the pitch with him.”

“Everything he gets, he deserves. He works so hard for it.”

Bellingham joins Beckham in Madrid record

The 23-year-old quietly set a mark of his own at Wembley. It was his 36th England appearance while playing for Real Madrid, equal with David Beckham for the most caps won by an England player at the Spanish club.

Bellingham sits on the 30-man men’s shortlist too, alongside Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior, Ousmane Dembélé, Rodri and Lionel Messi.

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London Palladium ends Paris monopoly

The ceremony is on Monday 26 October at the London Palladium, the first time the Ballon d’Or has been held outside Paris in its 70-year history.

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