Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, who recently won the 2025 US Open, has suggested that an England star may be "the best player in the world".

Alcaraz wins US Open for the second time

Alcaraz won the sixth major crown of his career in New York City on Sunday, defeating Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to secure victory in the US Open for the second time.

The Spaniard managed to get revenge on Sinner after the Italian emerged victorious at Wimbledon earlier this year, subsequently moving back up to no.1 in the world as a result.

As such, there can be no doubting that the 22-year-old is one of the best tennis players in the world, having now won the French Open, US Open and Wimbledon on two occasions, but it is not quite as clear-cut who the greatest footballer on the planet is.

Alcaraz has previously suggested that he prefers Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, but the US Open winner has also suggested that a Real Madrid star is currently the best player in the world.

Indeed, speaking previously, Alcaraz said on Jude Bellingham: "Well… for me it is difficult to believe he is 20 (years-old). Right now, I think, if he is not the best player in the world, (he is) one of the best ones.

"I think everything he transmits to everyone on-and-off the field is amazing. I have a lot of respect for him. It is great to have him in Real Madrid."

Bellingham set to play starring role for England at World Cup

It would take a major slip-up for England not to make it to the 2026 World Cup, given that their qualifying group looks relatively straightforward on paper, and Bellingham is set to play a starring role for Thomas Tuchel's side next summer.

In the past, there has been some, perhaps warranted, criticism that England players don't often test themselves abroad, but that has now started to change, with captain Harry Kane now at Bayern Munich, while Bellingham has flourished at Madrid ever since his arrival.

Not only that, but the central midfielder is also well-established at international level, having already amassed 44 caps for England at the age of just 22, although he has been unavailable for selection for Tuchel against Andorra and Serbia.

The Madrid star is still recovering from a shoulder injury, which has also ruled him out of his side's opening three La Liga matches, but it has now been revealed he is expected to return in late September.

England can make do without Bellingham at the moment, but he has a huge role to play at the World Cup next summer, having played a pivotal role in the Three Lions reaching the 2024 Euros final, most memorably scoring a dramatic late bicycle kick against Slovakia.