Jude Bellingham has been the best player at the World Cup so far, says former England striker Wayne Rooney.

Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham has scored six goals in six games for England, leaving him only two behind France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot standings.

Erling Haaland, whose Norway side were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals, is on seven while Three Lions captain Harry Kane is level with Bellingham.

England play Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday in the second semi-final (20:00 BST). The match is live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, and BBC Radio 5 Live.

“In terms of best in the world I think you’re looking at someone like Mbappe or Haaland,” Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

“Bellingham hasn’t quite hit those levels at Real Madrid this season, but he’s been the best player in the tournament for me.”

Bellingham, 23, has become a big-game player for England – with nine goals and three assists in World Cups and European Championships.

His Real Madrid team-mate Mbappe – with 12 – is the only European player to have scored more than nine goals in a major tournament before the age of 24.

Bellingham has averaged a goal or assist every 138 minutes at major tournaments for England, compared to one every 284 minutes in other international matches.

He scored in the group wins over Croatia and Panama at this World Cup, then twice against both Mexico and Norway in the knockout stage.

“With Jude, it’s all about energy, passion, desire, drive and that’s how he’s getting his rewards,” said Rooney.

“That’s very rare to have that. A lot of these top players rely on the ability and the technique to get their moments. Jude has desire and hunger and it’s so refreshing to see a player playing the toughest game but also doing it.

“That’s what fans want, especially the England fans. They want to see players running and working for the team and for the badge.

“He reminds me of me in terms of one minute you’re thinking, ‘this lad’s a genius’, and the next minute you’re thinking, ‘don’t go into that tackle, don’t get sent off’.

“It’s exactly how I was. But he’s obviously backing it up in the biggest tournament. There were doubters before but he’s put all that to bed.”

If Bellingham or Kane score against Argentina, they will become the top scorer in one major tournament for England.

Gary Lineker in 1986 and Kane in 2018 scored six goals – and both won the Golden Boot.

Kane and Bellingham have been crucial to England’s run to the last four, scoring 12 out of their 13 goals.

No team in history to have scored more than 10 times have been more reliant on two players’ goals in a single World Cup.

“If we win it, I still think it’s going to be Harry Kane to win us the tournament,” said Rooney.

He thinks Argentina’s centre-backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez will struggle with Bayern Munich striker Kane.

“If Harry Kane is on it they won’t be able to deal with him,” said Rooney. “He’s a nightmare for that type of defender.

“If he comes deep and they come with him and they feel a bit exposed it’s about the timing of pass and run in behind.

“If he’s on it he’ll destroy these centre-backs.”