For Jude Bellingham, success seems inevitable rather than just possible
Jude Bellingham speaks at the Winners' Press Conference during the Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid 2024 at GalerÃa De Cristal. Picture: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images for Laureus
It takes a lot to upstage Usain Bolt, so the fact that Jude Bellingham did it with aplomb indicates how far the modest young man from Birmingham has come in the past year.
Bolt is one of the most recognisable and sought-after personalities in sport, even a decade on from his multiple record-breaking achievements on the track. But the speed of Bellingham's rise from bright young thing to the most exciting young player in world football has been astonishing too.
He has won over everyone in Madrid since moving to the Bernabeu last summer, not just the hardened fans, but the kids, their mums, commentators, club legends and his team-mates.
Everyone loves Jude. No wonder his face is the image that welcomes you into the club's merchandise store on Gran Via, Madrid's main shopping street.
And it was just a few hundred metres up the road, at the historic Palacio de Cibeles, that Bolt met Bellingham for the first time, on arrival at the Laureus Sports Awards last week. This event, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is known as the Oscars of sport, with its grandiose staging and stellar cast list. Laureus legends, past and present, make up a Who's Who of sporting excellence.
Ruud Gullit, Boris Becker, Ed Moses, Novak Djokovic, Michael Johnson, Rafa Nadal, Sean Fitzpatrick, Raul, Martina Navratilova, Fabio Capello – they were all there in Madrid along with Bolt, a past winner of Sportsman of the Year.
When the big Jamaican appeared on the red carpet, he was the main focus of attention for dozens of cameras and reporters, as well as a throng of kids looking for autographs and selfies. But when Bellingham stepped out of the sponsors' car a minute or two later, the attention swung to him so quickly that Bolt was left almost alone. Teenagers once idolised the Beatles or Boyzone, and now this generation see Bellingham as their hero – Hey Jude indeed.
Chants of 'Belling-ham, Belling-ham' rang out as he patiently signed their books and posed for pics. Bolt looked on bemused. But he waited for a few minutes inside the main entrance, in front of the world's media, until the young man arrived, and being media-savvy, Bolt joined Bellingham for a photo that instantly went viral, as the two of them spread out their arms Christ-the-Redeemer style in what has become the footballer's trademark goal celebration. It was a significant moment, a changing of the guard, an established superstar paying homage to the young pretender.
Later, as Bellingham was presented with the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award, Bolt praised Bellingham in words.
“He has impressed a lot of people, not just me,” said Bolt, a huge fan of Manchester United. “Coming to Real Madrid, we expected great things from him, but he really stepped up to a level we did not expect, and he is showing the talent that means he will be among the top footballers throughout his career. For me it was a pleasure just to meet him and have a conversation, and to see that the young generation is stepping up. Big up to Jude!”
And it was not just Bolt who has been blown away by the impact Bellingham has made since joining Madrid as a teenager last summer. Raul, one of the world's greatest players and record appearance holder for Real Madrid, said: “Bellingham is the player who has impressed me the most given how young he is. He speaks as a mature player, a veteran already, as if he had been at Real Madrid for a long time.
“It’s really hard to find a player like that and the fans love him. He is a player who gives extra when things are tough. He connects with people and that why he is going to be a legend.”
Fabio Capello, who managed the club twice, added: “Only super players can play like him at this age – Messi, and some others. He gave an incredible performance in the Clasico, he was really good in every part of the pitch, especially recovering the ball, running back three or four times, and the fans understand this.”
Capello did not – and did not need to – mention's Bellingham's winning goal in the 92nd minute, the second time he has secured victory over the Catalan side after scoring twice in Barcelona earlier this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the last player to do this double, Ruud Van Nistelrooy the last to do it in his first season. Neither of them did it at such a young age, nor won over the fans quite so quickly.
Even Bellingham seems a little surprised at the way he has established himself so rapidly, not just as a goalscoring midfielder but also as a key player as Carlo Ancelotti's side move relentlessly to yet another La Liga title, and a possible double with Bayern Munich to come in the semi-final of the Champions League.
A few days earlier, Bellingham helped his side knock Manchester City out of the Champions League on penalties at the Etihad. Post-match, Bellingham told Rio Ferdinand on TNT: “I could never have dreamt of how it’s started. Not just because of the performances, the goals, but just the feeling you get playing for the club every day. You get to put the badge on your chest and you’re just so grateful to be there. Long may it continue.”
Ferdinand was blown away by the maturity that the 20-year-old showed in the way he spoke, as he had also done in the previous day's press conference, where he talked for 15 minutes about settling in so quickly and turning down offers from other clubs, including City and Liverpool, when he chose to leave Borussia Dortmund last summer.
“When Real Madrid came calling, it was a no-brainer to join them. The chance to play with such amazing players - I jumped at it. The team, the staff, the behind-the-scenes guys, the manager, the fans around the city that make you feel really comfortable. I’m really grateful for how Madrid, the city, the staff here and the players have all received me.
“We have a great relationship with all the lads, whether it be the senior lads or the young guys. When everything clicks, it’s beautiful to play with players like that when we’re all at our best. They make the job so much easier - they have so much quality, they are so humble, honest working lads, which really helps. Hopefully we’ll continue to play well, score goals and win games. It’s a great environment in the team.”
And he paid particular praise to the avuncular Ancelotti. “The sign of a good manager is when they can make you believe that you are a bit better than you were before. He fills me with that kind of confidence every day at training and in the games. He gives me the freedom to roam the pitch and be as effective as possible. He's a top person. He's been amazing in helping me adapt and understand my own potential. It's definitely down to him that I've had the start that I have at Madrid this year.”
It's easy to see why Ancelotti loves his young star. Bellingham arrived with a reputation as an attacking midfielder, but has shown there is more to his game and has been played in several positions. As a number ten and occasional false nine, Bellingham started the season in sensational goalscoring form, with five goals in his first four games and 17 by Christmas.
He has since been playing in a deeper-lying role, and the goals are fewer, but important when they arrive, as shown by the winner on Sunday night.
“Ancelotti took off Vinicius rather than him late in the game because he knew Bellingham has the legs to keep going and the cleverness to identify the correct moment make his run and score the killer goal,” said Marcel Desailly, another Laureus ambassador who won the World Cup with France when Zinedine Zidane was at his peak.
Plenty of people have drawn comparisons between Zizou and Bellingham, who had no qualms about taking on the great man's number five shirt, and Desailly thinks there are similarities. “The way they use the ball is different, Bellingham is more about directness and acceleration, but the potential and the talent is quite similar.”
Zidane’s are huge shoes to step into, but Bellingham is confident without being cocky, and comes across as grounded and humble. He spent the awards evening with his parents, dancing into the wee small hours, but does not let anything distract from his dedication to football duties.
Bellingham does not do a lot of interviews but he did a short press conference after picking up the award on Monday night. Typically he thanked his team-mates, manager and family, but also put forward some bold ambitions. “It's been a crazy few days, and hopefully there is more to come. We (Real Madrid) are in with a chance of two trophies and then there is the Euros with England. I think success would be all three.”
For this impressive young man with the world at his feet, success seems inevitable rather than just possible.
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