𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹'𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 👀🏴
An excerpt from the MiB Newsletter (free to read) ⬇️
"It seems farcical now, but leading up to the World Cup, certain corners of the English media boldly claimed that Jude Bellingham shouldn’t be on the flight to America.
Perhaps that sensationalism served its purpose because we’re still talking about it now. But witnessing the credibility of those words shattered with every interview, goal and match-winning performance from the 'Brummy Zidane,' has been one of the greatest joys of this World Cup.
Bellingham has dominated the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund and was Real Madrid’s best player in a Champions League-winning season, so although he has nothing to prove, he plays with a chip on his shoulder as a means of motivation. How very un-English.
Perhaps that’s why he occupies an uncomfortable place in the minds of some of the British press. Without the watchful all-seeing Premier League eye on him, he can mould his own narrative, which isn’t how this usually works. David Beckham, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling can all attest to that.
But at just 22 years old, he’s the youngest European player in history to appear at four international tournaments, and so far at this World Cup has won three Player of the Match awards, scored four goals and assisted once. Bellingham has also played with charisma, charm and expression, smiling and contorting whether things have gone his way or not.
Harry Kane is Prince Charming, but Bellingham thrives on being an antihero when he crosses the white line. He’s concurrently England’s most clutch player and the closest they have to a fan on the pitch.
He’s also incredibly candid, articulate and empathetic. After his masterpiece against Mexico, post-match, Bellingham went out of his way to embrace a young man who’s about to face similar scrutiny to him, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora.
When every other player walked past a reporter in a wheelchair, he made sure to stop and chat with the journalist in Spanish. England probably wouldn’t be in the quarterfinal if the Birmingham boy wasn’t picked by Thomas Tuchel, and his redemption arc is not only a testament to his irrepressible mental fortitude, but his huge heart."
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