Ezri Konsa Says Haaland and Bellingham Could Become Football's Next Messi-Ronaldo Rivalry

2026-07-10

England defender Ezri Konsa believes Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham have the potential to create a legendary football rivalry similar to the one that defined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's careers.

The two former Borussia Dortmund teammates will put their friendship aside when England face Norway in Miami on Saturday, with a place in the World Cup semifinals on the line.

Konsa, who has played every minute of England's World Cup campaign so far, believes both players are only beginning to reach their full potential and could dominate world football for years to come.

When asked by ITV whether Haaland and Bellingham could eventually develop a rivalry comparable to Messi and Ronaldo, Konsa said:

"It very well could be. You've got Neymar coming up as well, who is another top, top, top player. In 15 years' time, I'll probably be sitting on my sofa watching Haaland or Jude being one of the two GOATs of world football."

Haaland and Bellingham Among Football's New Generation

The current World Cup has already highlighted the influence of the next generation of superstars.

Lionel Messi and France forward Kylian Mbappé are leading the Golden Boot race. Mbappé moved ahead with his eighth goal of the tournament during France's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco, although Messi would have remained ahead if his penalty had not been saved.

Haaland is just one goal behind, while Bellingham has also made a major impact. The Real Madrid midfielder has scored four goals and is among five players currently tied for sixth place in the scoring charts.

Konsa believes Bellingham has taken another step forward since Euro 2024, with his performances showing clear improvement at the highest level.

"Everyone can see that Jude has upped his game since Euro 2024," Konsa said.

England's Reliance on Bellingham and Kane

England have occasionally faced criticism for relying too heavily on Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, who currently has six goals and sits fourth in the Golden Boot standings.

However, Konsa believes depending on elite players is not a weakness — it is exactly why they are part of the squad.

"Any team we come across, I'm sure they look at us and think, 'This is going to be tough,'" Konsa told the BBC.

"Harry Kane is a goalscorer. Jude Bellingham is a goalscorer and also creates goals. So why wouldn't you want to rely on them?"

"We have them for a reason, and we're going to use them as much as we can."

"So far, it has worked out really well, and hopefully they can do the same on Saturday."

A Clash Between Two Future Superstars

The England vs Norway quarterfinal is not only a battle between two national teams but also a meeting between two players who could define the next era of football.

Haaland has already established himself as one of the most feared goalscorers in the world, while Bellingham has developed into one of football's most complete midfielders.

With both players still in their early careers, Konsa believes their rivalry could become one of the defining stories of the sport for the next decade and beyond.