For many, Jordan Henderson was a surprise selection for England's World Cup squad. But Jude Bellingham (and Liverpool fans) know exactly why he's there
15:16, 12 Jun 2026
Jude Bellingham of England talks with teammates on the pitch prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Albania and England at Air Albania Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania.
Jude Bellingham has been speaking about former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in glowing terms.(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
It was five years ago that Roy Keane famously asked if Jordan Henderson had made it to England's Euro 2021 squad because of his potential prowess at card tricks. Two major tournaments later, the former Liverpool captain is once again on the roster, and Jude Bellingham is one of the biggest advocates for his inclusion.
The (admittedly excellent) card tricks jibe encapsulated the notion that Henderson is unlikely to contribute much on the pitch. On that occasion, he went into the tournament carrying an injury; this time around, it's more a case of many players being ahead of the veteran in the midfield pecking order.
Bellingham himself will obviously play ahead of Henderson, as will Declan Rice and the potentially Man City-bound Elliot Anderson. Meanwhile, the soon-to-be-36-year-old's presence in the camp has meant leaving Adam Wharton at home, even after the Crystal Palace man crowned an excellent season with a Conference League final masterclass.
There's no getting away from the fact that it was a controversial pick from Thomas Tuchel. There was some truth in Keane's words: when it comes to a European Championship or a World Cup, you can't waste a spot on a cheerleader or entertainer, especially when the country has such a depth of talent.
And yet there has to be a reason why Henderson has continually made the cut, not only through Gareth Southgate's regime but now into the Tuchel era as well. Liverpool fans know what that is, and so too does Bellingham.
"If there's a problem between two people, he'll bring them together," Bellingham explained to England's media channels. "He's that kind of person where even the staff will go to him to sort out issues.
"He's got no ego when it comes to supporting the team. I mean he's a Champions League winning captain, Premier League winning captain, [but] he's doing the sets (teeing up the ball) for the finishes yesterday."
England's midfielder Morgan Rogers, England's midfielder Jordan Henderson, England's forward #09 Harry Kane, England's midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham and England's defender Dan Burn warm up during a training session as part of the team's preparation for its FIFA World Cup football tournament opening match against Croatia at the team's training camp in Palm Beach Gardens on June 9, 2026.
Jordan Henderson is a leader within this England group(Image: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool saw this leadership time and time again. Indeed, Henderson even became a kind of unofficial captain of the captains, leading cross-team initiatives to support the NHS, Black Lives Matter, and the Rainbow Laces campaign.
Of course, that's what made it all the more disappointing when Henderson elected to move to Saudi Arabia. Having set the bar so high for himself, he did invite legitimate criticism for perceived hypocrisy.
But his final-day reception at Anfield this season showed that his reputation is still very much intact at Liverpool. And while the circumstances of Henderson's exit may still leave a slightly sour taste, Bellingham is right to point out that this is a player who scaled incredible heights with the Reds, claiming the game's top honors.
He did all of that very much against the odds, having been tasked with the impossible job of taking the armband from Steven Gerrard. Yet in the final analysis, you could argue that the mantle of leadership sat even more naturally with Henderson than with his predecessor.
Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard coach of Al Ettifaq after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad at Al Ettifaq Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Al Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Henderson and Steven Gerrard controversially linked up in Saudi Arabia.(Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Certainly, Henderson has had more success in uniting the England camp. Joining Bellingham for the interview, Morgan Rogers was similarly effusive, calling him "the best guy I've ever come across in football."
And yes, the two did also have high praise for his skills as the camp comedian (look away now, Roy). This may seem like shaky grounds for a place in the squad, but these intangibles do make a difference when trying to manage an international camp.
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For years, Liverpool had a dressing room full of passionate and potentially combustible characters. Jurgen Klopp must obviously take huge credit for bringing them all together, but it is no accident that Henderson was his captain throughout that period of such great success.
Ultimately, the respect that his teammates have for him tells the whole story. Henderson might not be doing card tricks, but he is providing a far more valuable kind of magic to the squad.