Wales’ most prolific outing in nearly half a century delivered not only a statement performance, but also secured the prize Bellamy had labelled “massive” all week - a home semi-final in the March World Cup play-offs.
Harry Wilson, captaining his country for the first time, produced a hat-trick as Wales ran riot in Cardiff.
David Brooks, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James and substitute Nathan Broadhead completed the scoring on a night that carried both significance and spectacle.
Yet it was Bellamy’s joy for the manner of the performance — not just the volume of goals — that marked his post-match assessment.
“I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“I spoke to the players in the meeting before we came here and said we could really enjoy tonight.
“There could be something in this for us, the way they play and how we are able to combat that.”
READ MORE: Belgium? Boring? Not For Wales, Says Harry Wilson
Bellamy had been warning for days that everything needed to align for Wales to avoid the treacherous third-seed pot in the play-off draw.
His players responded with their most assertive attacking display since 1978, dominating opponents who had arrived unbeaten in qualifying, having held Belgium twice and frustrated Wales in Skopje eight months earlier.
But for all the pre-match pressure, Bellamy said the performance exceeded even his own expectations.
“I said to them at the end, I am not a perfect person, I haven't come across anyone who is.
“But maybe I take a little bit of that back because that was as close to the perfect performance as I have seen. That was incredible.”
READ MORE: Wales Star Harry Wilson Reminds Craig Bellamy Of South American Legends
Wales played without a recognised striker, instead deploying three natural No 10s — Wilson, Brooks and Johnson — to flood midfield pockets, overload central areas and destabilise North Macedonia’s narrow shape.
The rotation was fluid, the tempo relentless and the finishing, clinical.
Bellamy was eager to highlight that structure.
“The way we were able to use the ball, our timing - we didn't play with a forward today, we had three [number] 10s.
“But they were in the position where you drag someone out and someone runs, then the wide players were connected with it as well.”
READ MORE: Home is Where the Heart is For Craig Bellamy . . . and Wales’ World Cup Chances
The ball circulation, he said, was decisive.
“We were just so clean with the ball and that allows you to have good chances. Today was one of those days where we are able to take them as well.”
The tone was set early. Johnson — restored to the starting XI after two games on the bench — immediately stretched the visitors, while Brooks fizzed a volley over from the winger’s first incisive burst.
Wales took the lead after 18 minutes when Brooks was clipped by Andrej Stojchevski in the area and Wilson rolled in the resulting penalty.
Three minutes later, Johnson burst through the line again and his cross, aided by a deflection off the unfortunate Stojchevski, fell kindly for Brooks to finish.
North Macedonia replied instantly, Bojan Miovski capitalising on a slip from goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but Wales were unfazed.
Darlow redeemed himself moments later with a strong save from Enis Bardhi, while Neco Williams struck the post after a fingertip stop from Stole Dimitrievski.
The momentum was reclaimed emphatically when Johnson, enjoying his finest international performance, curled a fierce strike into the top corner via a slight deflection.
It was his first goal of the campaign and the spark that lit Wales’ most dominant passage of play.
After half-time, Wales tightened their grip. Brooks fed Wilson inside the area, whose clever backheel invited Daniel James to sweep home.
Wilson then curled in a superb free-kick from distance before completing his hat-trick with a second penalty.
Broadhead’s late strike gave Wales their seventh — a scoreline that even home supporters, in full celebration mode, could scarcely have imagined.
Bellamy reserved special praise for his captain.
“I have only seen the superb side of him since I have been in his role.
“We played him as a false nine and he has the intelligence to do that. He was captain and he was incredible.”
The Fulham midfielder’s treble lifted him to eighth in Wales’ all-time scoring list and capped a performance that reflected both maturity and creativity, central to Bellamy’s fluid attacking structure.
Belgium’s 7–0 win over Liechtenstein confirmed their automatic qualification, leaving Wales to navigate the play-offs.
Crucially, the victory lifted Bellamy’s side into the second-seed bracket — meaning a home semi-final awaits in March.
Bellamy welcomed the challenge, whoever emerges from Thursday’s draw.
“We'll adapt. There are tricky teams still left in it.
“Big congratulations to Scotland tonight as well. I love seeing the home nations do well, I really do. That's given us more incentive.
“For me personally, I want to be joining them so hopefully we can do that.”
Seven goals, a statement of intent and a manager declaring his side “close to perfect”: Wales could scarcely have asked for a more timely confidence surge as the countdown to the play-offs begins.
