This is in no way about tough love, it’s not about proving people wrong or setting the record straight. If anything, it just goes to show that Jude Bellingham is one of the best soccer players in the world.
His most recent heroics came against Norway, when he dug deep and scored twice to single-handedly drag England into the World Cup semi-finals. It is because of him that England have made it this far.
This was another great performance by a supremely talented player who was stylish, classy and highly regarded in every sense of the word. Majestic, elegant, and beautiful. What a joy to watch him play.
Bellingham has been outstanding for England at this World Cup, winning the Man of the Match award in four of his six matches. That’s some accomplishment.
Get the latest 2026 World Cup news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter
Bellingham has also scored six goals, stepping up when England needed him most and his connection with the fans is something we should all cherish. Bellingham’s way of talking about England fans is great.
Hearing him talk about them especially after the game in Mexico was one of the highlights of my World Cup. Anyone who has ever paid to go to a game, or who has been to a game, will appreciate his words of gratitude, about the cost, how hard it was to get there, and their unwavering support.
It was wonderful. It also showed that he hasn’t gotten all this out of his head.
Not only is this player a superstar on the pitch, but he’s also a down-to-earth, humble, down-to-earth person who has obviously been raised well by his family. Bellingham is only 23 years old, but he is mature far beyond his years.
He was a phenomenal talent at Birmingham City, breaking into the first team at just 16 years and 38 days old. Ask Birmingham fans what they think of him. He is also a player who impressed everyone in the locker room with his maturity, class and determination.
It was clear he would reach the top. Few players are bold and brave enough to venture abroad. He stepped out of the spotlight and comfort zone to join Borussia Dortmund and quickly became a superstar showing greatness.
Is Jude Bellingham the best player of the tournament so far? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Jude Bellingham leads England to the World Cup semi-finals (Image: Getty Images)
Don’t listen to the old ex-players and managers who jumped on the bandwagon saying they almost signed him to this club or this club. He knew where he wanted to go and that it would take something special to be bold and join Real Madrid.
They love him in Madrid. They love him because he is a top player and a great person who they respect very much. He’s also a heart-pounding, incredibly good-looking player, but it’s on the pitch that he really shines. However, despite this background and despite his determination and success, some people doubted Bellingham.
Let’s be clear here: Thomas Tuchel was one of them. The England manager did not use Bellingham for part of their World Cup qualifiers, but he liked the team’s togetherness and allowed Bellingham to speak as if he were an outsider.
That was a mistake. It was also a disrespectful act, driving a further wedge behind Tuchel’s comments in a radio interview about his mother, who found some of his antics on the pitch to be “offensive” and “intimidating” to his own team-mates.
Anyone watching this summer’s World Cup will quickly see that Bellingham is the epitome of a team player. He works hard for the team, stands up for his teammates and pushes himself to the limit for England.
It would be very wrong to attribute his performance to Tuchel’s man-management as if it were some brilliant carrot-and-stick technique. That’s complete nonsense. That would be a disservice to Bellingham’s brilliance and drive.
Manager Thomas Tuchel removed Jude Bellingham from the squad in October (Image: Getty)
What you’re looking at right now is a player at the top of his game. He is the ultimate mental monster. He is a player who pushed himself out of his comfort zone to play overseas, then joined arguably the biggest club in the world and took the World Cup by storm.
Bellingham is just being himself at this World Cup. What sets him apart from others is his mentality, his way of thinking and his drive. It didn’t come from anyone other than Bellingham. Anyone who says this is a story about tough love has no idea what they’re talking about.
The bigger reason here and now is that, as Tuchel said, Bellingham is in a “sweet spot” of form, fresh off a season he missed due to injury and peaking at just the right time.
If England win the World Cup, he will be eligible to win the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. In 2018, Luka Modric led Croatia to the final, where they lost but won the Golden Ball. He probably doesn’t deserve it any more than Bellingham.
Jude Bellingham was there when England needed him (Image: Getty Images)
He is truly one of the best players in the world. His argument after the Norway game was also great. It was ITV’s excellent post-match interviewer Gabriel Clarke who had a sharp exchange with Tuchel after the England manager criticized his team’s performance.
Clarke asked if it was a mental issue, but Tuchel didn’t like that and the atmosphere turned grim. But then Clarke passed on Tuchel’s comments to Bellingham, who defended the team, the performance and his team-mates. It’s about being part of a team. I’m a leader.
We want the players to speak freely and we can’t criticize their opinions. There was a real misunderstanding there, but Tuchel actually seemed to like it a lot. It made good television.
Once again, Bellingham answered questions posed to him, especially when speaking to Sky’s excellent Rob Dorsett, saying that the intensity of the match, the heat and the climate should not be underestimated. before finishing with a wink.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham scored 12 of England’s 13 goals (Image: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Yes, there was a problem with the media. If a newspaper ran a front-page headline saying “He shouldn’t play in the World Cup,” that must be pretty hard to swallow.
But in fact he was interviewed on TV after the match (which is a requirement for Man of the Match) and entertained on the radio. That’s what sent a shiver down my spine when he talked about fans.
Respectfully, Jude. A great one-off. He truly has the ability and character to be England’s best ever player. He owns this World Cup for England.
If he lifts the trophy in New Jersey on July 19, it will be because of him, and it will be one of the greatest performances ever by an English player. He is a national treasure and we should cherish him.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with Sky Glass ‘designed for soccer’
From £6
sky
Get the deal here
Shoppers can now upgrade to a Sky smart TV ‘designed for football’ from £6 a month when used with a Sky TV and Netflix package.
