Jude Bellingham cited former US president Theodore Roosevelt in response to his critics after scoring a crucial equalizing goal six minutes into stoppage time during England's Euro 2024 round of 16 victory against Slovakia.
Bellingham, who turned 21 on Saturday, saved England from defeat with a scissor kick with just seconds remaining in Sunday's match in Gelsenkirchen.
The Real Madrid midfielder turned around and muttered “Who else?” as he celebrated his goal which took the tie to extra time before England captain Harry Kane headed in a winning goal to seal a 2-1 win and secure a place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland on Saturday.
Following a series of poor performances in Germany, Bellingham had been under pressure to live up to his reputation as one of the game's hottest young talents for Gareth Southgate's side.
Following his goal-scoring contribution, Bellingham published an extract from 'The Man in the Arena', part of a speech made famous by Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, after his speech in Paris in 1910.
Bellingham posted on Instagram: “It is not the critic who counts; it is not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the author of actions could have done them better.
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who falls short again and again, for there is no effort without error and deficiency.
“But who really makes an effort to do things? Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions? Who dedicates himself to a worthy cause?
“Who at best knows in the end the triumph of great achievements, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails by daring a lot, so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who do not know the victory or failure.”
Bellingham said in his post-match interview that playing for England is “difficult” and spoke of a “lot” of criticism.
“Playing for England is a nice feeling but it also brings a lot of pressure,” he said.
“You hear people talk a lot of nonsense. It's nice to be able to deliver and give them something back.
“It's very difficult when you speak in press conferences and interviews to speak with the frankness that footballers want because they are always judged. For me, football, being on the pitch, scoring goals and celebrating is my liberation.
“People talk a lot. You have to take it a little bit personally. We work very hard on this game.
“We come every day, we work hard to put on a good show for the fans, sometimes it doesn't go well and sometimes it feels like there's a lot of pressure, it's not nice to hear.
“But you can always use it and at times like that, it's nice to give back to some people.”
England manager Southgate will be forced to make at least one change to his team against Switzerland after defender Marc Guéhi received a yellow card against Slovakia that triggered a one-match suspension for the quarter-finals.
