Sean Cole, a fan of Birmingham City, saw this side of Galactico long before the rest of Europe did. He says that England star Jude Bellingham is a success because of his character as well as his skills.
It’s not a surprise that Jude Bellingham hasn’t been at his best this summer. The England team has been dull and afraid to take risks, but no one has been more willing to seize the moment than him.
It was his thunderous header that gave England their only win in regular time so far. An amazing overhead kick kept them from an embarrassing exit, and he smoothly kicked his penalty against Switzerland in the shootout. Because of his character as well as his skills, Bellingham has stepped up and made these important accomplishments. His huge amount of self-confidence and strong desire to win have always stood out.
It can get to him sometimes, but that edge is what makes him such a great player and a game-changer for England and Real Madrid. It’s what helped him get this far in his job so quickly.
This was the first time that many of Bellingham’s fans saw this side of him, but it’s always been there and is still a big part of his success.
In real life, he’s smart and humble, which is why the media has praised him so much in recent years. But on the pitch, like many other great players, he has an ego. He has always been sure that he fits at this level. Without a doubt, Bellingham has a swagger about him, and he should. He has faith in his own skills and plays with complete passion, which help him stand out from others. He acts like he thinks he can control games.
A football player’s mindset has a big effect on their growth and chances of success. It’s one of those intangible things that makes it easy to tell players of similar skill apart, and it set Bellingham apart from the start.
People who used to play with him for Birmingham City say he was always polite and respectful, but that couldn’t hide his steely drive, which we’ve seen recently with England.
Bellingham never shied away from a physical challenge. In his first practice with the first team, he put the club captain on his behind after pretending to shoot.
This was clear during his breakout season in the Championship, where his great drive made up for his size and athletic skill.
He would get right into it, get the crowd excited, and put opponents who talked back in their place.
His signature reaction, arms spread wide to enjoy the cheers of the crowd, began when he scored his second professional goal on his first league start, away at Charlton Athletic when he was 16 years old. He has always been sure of himself, and he shouldn’t be.
Bellingham had just turned 21 at the time of the event. He has a lot of room to grow and get better in the years to come. He should be careful not to be cocky, but we shouldn’t try to put out the fire that got him to the top.