Bellingham Must Lead England's No.10 Charge, Richards Insists – Case Closed

Micah Richards has thrown his weight behind Jude Bellingham to anchor England's World Cup campaign, dismissing suggestions that Morgan Rogers poses a genuine threat to the Real Madrid man's claim on the No.10 shirt as little more than noise.

The debate, Richards argues, should never have materialised in the first place. Bellingham's pedigree speaks for itself: a Champions League winner operating at the Santiago Bernabeu, a player who has consistently delivered when the stakes are highest. That sort of calibre, he contends, settles the matter.

Bellingham's credentials took a dent during the 2025/26 season, admittedly. The 22-year-old managed just eight goals and five assists across 40 appearances in all competitions, struggling with both form and injury as Carlo Ancelotti's men ground through their campaign. It was hardly the sort of output that commands automatic selection, and it opened the door for Rogers to press his claims.

The Aston Villa playmaker has certainly made his case. Under Unai Emery's guidance, Rogers contributed 26 goals and assists as Villa finished fourth in the Premier League and captured the Europa League – a genuinely impressive haul that caught plenty of attention. His performances for Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions have also earned him admirers within the setup.

Yet Bellingham's performance in Wednesday's 3-0 demolition of Costa Rica suggested the pendulum may be swinging back in his favour. He looked sharp, purposeful, and closer to the player who lit up Euro 2024 – the one who conjured an injury-time overhead kick against Slovakia to save England from a humiliating early exit.

Alan Shearer has advocated for Rogers, telling the Rest Is Football podcast: "I would go with Morgan Rogers. We're going into a World Cup and we're all pretty optimistic about how it's going to go. We're pretty happy with how England have gone lately and Morgan Rogers has played a huge part in that. That's why I think the manager will go with him and I'm more than happy if that is his decision."

Richards, however, won't have it. "In terms of big moments, Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid, Champions League winner – when England were down in other tournaments, he's been the guy," he explained. "He's had the personality to step up in big moments."

The former Manchester City defender acknowledges that Rogers possesses genuine quality and could feasibly feature alongside Bellingham at times. But as the focal point of England's attacking play, there is simply no contest. "This is what frustrates me, we've got a genuine superstar in Jude Bellingham…it shouldn't even be a debate," Richards stressed. "He's the best player and he has to start. He's delivered, he's delivered at the highest level so he has to start."

Gary Lineker sided with Richards. "I would go with Micah on this one," the former England striker said. "Just because I think Jude is a genuine superstar, and to win World Cups, I think you need someone that's going to make a massive difference."

For England's World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas, it appears the weight of expert opinion is tilting decisively in Bellingham's direction.