Jude Bellingham is an English professional football player known for his exceptional technical skills, vision, and finishing abilities. He currently plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid and the England national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players globally, Bellingham received both the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards in 2023, recognizing him as the top footballer under the age of 21.
1959: Joining Elite Company
Bellingham's scoring consistency put him in the company of Real Madrid legends Pepillo (1959-1960) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2009-2010) as the only players to score in each of their first four competitive appearances for the club.
1970: Trevor Francis Sets Record
Trevor Francis set the record for Birmingham City's youngest first-team player in 1970, which Bellingham later broke.
June 2003: Birth of Jude Bellingham
Born in June 2003, Bellingham grew up idolizing Zinedine Zidane.
June 2003: Birth of Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham was born in June 2003.
2005: Historic El Clásico Goal
Bellingham etched his name in El Clásico history by becoming the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2005 to score in the fixture. His stunning goal in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Barcelona further solidified his status as a rising star.
2009: Matching Cristiano Ronaldo's Record
Bellingham's impressive start saw him match Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring 10 goals in his first 10 games for Real Madrid, a feat achieved by Ronaldo in the 2009-2010 season.
2017: Captain of England Under-15 Team
During the 2017-2018 season, Bellingham captained England's Under-15 team.
October 2018: Bellingham's Debut for Birmingham City's Under-23 Team
At the age of 15, Bellingham made his debut for Birmingham City's under-23 team in October 2018 and scored the game's only goal.
2018: Special Achievement Award and England Under-16 Debut
Bellingham received the Special Achievement Award at the Birmingham City Academy awards night for captaining the England Under-15 team. By the end of the year, he had also made his first appearance for the England under-16 team, eventually playing in 11 games, scoring four goals, and captaining the team.
March 2019: Attracting Attention from Major Clubs
By March 2019, Bellingham had scored three goals in ten appearances for Birmingham City's development squad and was attracting attention from major European clubs.
July 2019: Bellingham Begins Two-Year Scholarship with Birmingham City
Bellingham began a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City in July 2019.
August 2019: Bellingham's Senior Debut
Jude Bellingham made his senior debut for Birmingham City in August 2019 at the age of 16 years and 38 days, becoming the club's youngest ever first-team player.
November 2019: Bellingham Named EFL Young Player of the Month
Bellingham was named EFL Young Player of the Month in November 2019.
January 2020: Birmingham Rejects Bid from Manchester United
Birmingham City turned down a £20 million bid for Bellingham from Manchester United in January 2020.
July 2020: Transfer to Borussia Dortmund Confirmed
Bellingham's transfer to Borussia Dortmund was confirmed in July 2020 for a fee believed to be around £25 million, making him the most expensive 17-year-old in history.
July 2020: Transfer to Borussia Dortmund
In July 2020, Bellingham transferred to Borussia Dortmund and became their youngest ever goal scorer in his first appearance.
September 2020: Bellingham's Debut for Borussia Dortmund
Bellingham made his debut for Borussia Dortmund in September 2020, becoming the club's youngest ever goal scorer in the DFB-Pokal and their youngest scorer in any competitive match.
November 2020: England Senior Squad Debut
Bellingham's impressive performances earned him his first call-up to the England senior squad in November 2020, making his debut in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland.
November 2020: England Senior Team Debut
Bellingham made his first appearance for England's senior team in November 2020.
2020: Preparing for the 2020 European Championship Qualifiers
In 2020, the Syrenka Cup, held in September 2019, served as preparation for the 2020 European Championship qualifiers scheduled for March.
June 2021: UEFA Euro 2020 Appearance
Bellingham participated in the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, which was delayed to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He became the youngest Englishman to play at a major tournament and, at the time, the youngest player ever at the European Championship when he came on as a substitute against Croatia.
December 2021: Controversy in Der Klassiker
In December 2021, Bellingham was involved in a controversy during Der Klassiker against Bayern Munich. He criticized referee Felix Zwayer's decisions, making a reference to Zwayer's past involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Bellingham's comments resulted in a €40,000 fine from the German Football Association (DFB).
2021: Breakthrough Season at Borussia Dortmund
In 2021, Bellingham established himself as a key player for Borussia Dortmund, making significant contributions in the Bundesliga and Champions League. He scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfB Stuttgart and played a crucial role in Dortmund's victory over RB Leipzig in the DFB-Pokal final. His outstanding performances earned him the title of Newcomer of the Season and a second-place finish in the Kopa Trophy voting.
October 2022: Dominant Performance Against Stuttgart
Bellingham delivered a standout performance against Stuttgart in October 2022, scoring two crucial goals to help Dortmund secure a top-four spot in the league.
November 2022: First International Goal and Key Contributions in the 2022 World Cup
In November 2022, Bellingham scored his first senior international goal in England's opening game of the 2022 World Cup against Iran. He became the second youngest scorer for England in World Cup history. He continued to be instrumental for England throughout the tournament, providing assists and key passes in their matches against Senegal.
2022: Mark Bellingham's Retirement
Bellingham's father, Mark, retired from his position as a sergeant in the West Midlands Police in 2022.
2022: Borussia Dortmund's Second Place Finish
Bellingham's performances helped Dortmund finish as runners-up in the 2022-2023 season.
2022: IFFHS World's Best Youth Player and Top Midfielder Rankings
In 2022, Bellingham's exceptional talent was recognized with the IFFHS World's Best Youth (U20) Player award. He was also highly rated in midfielder rankings by ESPN and 90min.
May 2023: Bundesliga Player of the Season and Kopa Trophy Win
Despite a knee injury that sidelined him for the final game, Bellingham's exceptional performances throughout the season earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award. He also won the prestigious Kopa Trophy, recognizing him as the world's best under-21 male player.
June 2023: Transfer to Real Madrid
In a landmark move, Bellingham signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid in June 2023. The transfer fee, potentially rising to €133.9 million, made him one of the most expensive English players ever.
August 2023: Record-Breaking Start at Real Madrid
Bellingham made an immediate impact at Real Madrid, scoring on his debut against Athletic Bilbao and continuing his scoring streak in subsequent matches. He became the first English player to win the La Liga Player of the Month award and equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of scoring in his first four competitive appearances for the club.
2023: Bellingham's Awards Recognition
In 2023, Jude Bellingham won the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy, recognizing him as one of the best young players in the world.
2023: Golden Boy Award and Continued Success
Bellingham added the Golden Boy award to his growing list of accolades, recognizing him as the best under-21 player in Europe. Despite a shoulder injury, he continued his impressive form for Real Madrid, breaking club records and solidifying his place as a key player.
2023: Transfer to Real Madrid
In 2023, Bellingham signed with Real Madrid for a fee of €103 million.
2023: Recognition as a Top Midfielder
By 2023, Bellingham was widely recognized as one of the best midfielders globally, praised for his exceptional ball control, physicality, technical skills, versatility, and vision. Experts and fellow players alike lauded his ability to excel in both defense and offense.
2023: Move to Real Madrid and Position Change
Bellingham's move to Real Madrid in 2023 saw him take on a more advanced midfield role, playing higher up the pitch as an attacking midfielder or even as a forward. This tactical shift led to him becoming more involved in scoring goals, evident in his impressive scoring run at the start of his Madrid career.
2023: Golden Boy, Kopa Trophy, and Continued Recognition
Bellingham continued to collect accolades in 2023, winning the prestigious Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards. He also received the IFFHS World's Best Youth (U20) Player award for the second consecutive year.
2024: Laureus World Sports Award and La Liga Triumph
Bellingham's exceptional year was capped off with the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year. He continued to be a driving force for Real Madrid, helping them win their 36th La Liga title.