Mark Bellingham scores 700 goals fact checked

Norway’s coaching staff also react in frustration at Bellingham’s goal, making clear that they, too, believe the ball hit an overhead cable. “Many on the bench reacted immediately,” said Norway’s manager, Ståle Solbakken. “I was not one of them, but many saw it.

He would have been focusing on the actions of the players in the build-up, and there was no obvious reason to dig so deep, especially given the pressure on all video officials not to be too forensic, nor to delay the game in an apparent quest to find something wrong with what appears to be a perfectly valid goal. Alfie Haaland, the father of Erling, posted on social media to congratulate Bellingham after his match-winning display but also hinted at the controversy.

Bellingham joined Southend-based side Catholic United in the mid-1980s as a youth player, eventually starting his senior career at the club. Bellingham attended the University of Wolverhampton. Bellingham was regarded as a prolific non-league striker, scoring over 700 goals.

Coney, Steven (22 September 2016). "700-up! Legendary striker Mark Bellingham on reaching the amazing milestone". The Non-League Paper. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019.

Coney, Steven (22 September 2016). "700-up! Legendary striker Mark Bellingham on reaching the amazing milestone". The Non-League Paper.

The defining statistic of his playing career is his total of more than 700 non-league goals. He reached the 700-goal landmark in 2016 while playing for Paget Rangers at the age of 40.

Mark Bellingham (born 7 March 1976) is an English former non-league footballer and retired police sergeant, best known for his prolific goalscoring record of over 700 goals across a 25-year career and as the father and former agent of Real Madrid ...

Only Kylian Mbappe had scored more goals before their 24th birthday, with 12. Against Mexico, Bellingham became the youngest player to reach ten World Cup appearances, at 23 years and 6 days. He broke the record by Mario Kempes, who did so aged 23 years and 334 days at Argentina 1978.

Norway protested that the ball had struck an overhead camera cable before Bellingham scored, but FIFA said there was no contact and the goal stood.