Unstoppable Bellingham is a future Ballon d'Or winner and can be England's best ever

This was the passing of the baton from one of football’s all-time greats to a future Ballon d’Or winner.

Jude Bellingham stamped his quality all over this emphatic, sensational and thrilling England victory. One goal and three assists and easily the best player on the pitch.

Bellingham also put Luka Modric in the shade as England had too much speed, threat and thrust for Croatia who crumbled in the Stadion HNK Rijeka.

Modric, now 41, was one of the best players in the world, won the Ballon d’Or himself in 2018 but was given the complete run-around by Bellingham and Co.

Get our comprehensive football coverage, with news, updates, opinions, analysis and everything that matters to you, straight to your inbox.

To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Bellingham, 23, has the capacity and potential to be England’s best-ever player. Clearly, he needs a trophy to prove it but, with performances like these, the trophies must follow.

Real Madrid star Bellingham was just unstoppable and the only shame was that only 100 England fans were in the stadium to see it.

What an absolute farce. UEFA banned Croatia fans because of racist chanting but they still let in 6,342 school kids. So much for behind-closed-doors. Mind you, Croatia were probably thankful otherwise the crowd would have turned on them.

England were brilliant but Croatia were dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. Slaven Bilic has come back for a second stint and might be wishing he had not. This team has had its day.

By contrast, England were bright, full of ideas and super slick. A new-look midfield partnership of Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott - both 23 - were excellent. Declan Rice might actually have a job on his hands to get back in.

The last time Scott and Anderson played together was when they helped England’s under-21s win the European Championships. They have a lovely understanding which carried on into the seniors.

Scott was making his full debut after coming on as a substitute in the Czech Republic and is quickly showing England do have ball-playing midfielders who have possession in their DNA.

Of course Harry Kane scored. England’s Captain Marvel is chasing down 100 goals. Thomas Tuchel said this week he would only need 13 games to get 13 goals. Well, here were another two ticked off the list.

Kane is up to 89 from 124 caps and only needs one more appearance to equal Peter Shilton’s record of 125. Even at 33, he is getting better with age.

The interesting thing is - and this has gone unnoticed in some quarters - is that Bellingham played alongside Kane at the World Cup and they have quickly formed a lethal partnership.

They teamed up together for England’s first goal. It only took eight minutes for them to open up Croatia’s lame defence.

Bellingham’s exquisite through ball put in Kane who took the ball in his stride and then smashed it into the roof of the net.

The second goal followed soon enough. Jarell Quansah and Bukayo Saka combined, Gordon supplied the pull back and that was touched in by Bellingham.

England made it 3-0 before half time. Quansah whipped in a curling cross and there was Gordon running in at the back post to head home.

Croatia were having a stinker. Mateo Kovacic missed one of the biggest sitters you will ever see after a rare Anderson mistake. Clearly, the Manchester City midfielder might have other things on his mind.

England made them pay. Bellingham’s low cross set up Bukayo Saka who fired in to make it 4-0. This was embarrassing. That made it one goal and two assists for Bellingham. Incredible.

It was 5-0 after 53 minutes. Anderson’s low cross was turned in by Kane. England made it 6-0 after 68 minutes. Kane’s assist set up Saka who smashed his second goal into the roof of the net.

Worse followed. Bellingham provided another assist and England substitute Morgan Rogers raced through, rounded the keeper and slotted in to inflict Croatia’s biggest-ever defeat.

The poor kids might not come back while the 100 England fans began chanting: “Are you Scotland in disguise?”