The Impact of Real Madrid Star Jude Bellingham

Throughout the 2023–2024 season, you have heard the name Jude Bellingham. An English star who is taking the world by storm with his power in the final third. When you look at his career, he has come a long way, and the journey was not easy. Jude comes from a city called Birmingham. He went on to play for his local team, Birmingham City, which he would join as an under-eight. He later became the club’s youngest first-team player when he made his senior debut in August 2019 at the age of 16 years and 38 days. He became a starter throughout the 2019–2020 season. Birmingham would see a special light in Bellingham, which would make them retire his jersey. He later went on to join German club Borussia Dortmund in July 2020. He started to gain traction throughout the 2021 season when he started many different Champions League games. Many people remember his goal against Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. There was also a picture of him celebrating the goal that went viral and brought attention to his name. He began to grow as a midfielder and bring light to who he is as a player.  

In the 2022 season, the English star would face many different obstacles, but he did not let that stop him. He would play a vital role in why Dortmund was in the title race with Bayern for the Bundesliga title. On May 28, 2023, Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga after two points by league leaders Borussia Dortmund in a 2–2 draw to Mainz 05 on the final day. Jude Bellingham would sadly not be able to play this match due to a knee injury that he got. Even though his team could not get the title, he was still awarded Bundesliga Player of the Season. In the Bundesliga, Jude was putting up world-class performances every week, and it would finally get recognized with silverware. He would also have a good campaign in the 2022 World Cup, which would contribute to him winning the Kopa Trophy in 2023. The Kopa Trophy recognizes the best player in the world under 21. His performances over the 2022–23 season for Dortmund and for England in the 2022 FIFA World Cup would contribute to his winning this award. He became the first Englishman to receive the award, which was presented at the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony in October. He also placed 18th in the Ballon d'Or voting. With all these achievements, he decided that it was time to take the big step and the big move. On June 14, 2023, Real Madrid announced the signing of Bellingham on a six-year contract. Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, and many people started to question whether Jude Bellingham was worth the price of €103 million. He would also take the iconic number five of French legend Zinedine Zidane. The pressure on Jude Bellingham to perform was at an all-time high, and many of the fans wondered if he would deliver. Little did they know that the pressure was nothing to Bellingham. 

Jude would start the season off in the 2023–2024 La Liga season by scoring five goals in his first four games. The two goals that he scored against Celta Vigo and Getafe were both 90-minute winners to help Real Madrid secure three points. He would go on to start trademarking his signature celebration, where he puts both of his arms up and shows the crowd that this is his moment. Jude would go on to play a vital role in the success of Real Madrid throughout the season, in which he scored 23 goals and assisted 12 in all competitions. Under the guidance of coach Carlo Ancelotti, Bellingham has thrived in a specialized role within Real Madrid's tactical setup. Often involved in the final third, his position, while officially a central midfielder, often mirrors that of a striker due to his freedom to roam and impact the game across the entire pitch. His balanced defensive and offensive work rates have made him an impactful player in both domestic and European competitions. As the season unfolded, Bellingham's leadership on the field became undeniable. He was instrumental in Real Madrid's successful campaign, which saw them winning the 2024 La Liga title and securing a spot in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, his former club. This upcoming match presents a poignant chapter in Bellingham's career, as he faces the team that played a significant role in his development. Through his journey, Bellingham has consistently proved his critics wrong and demonstrated that he is a player of exceptional talent and character, destined for greatness.