Gracing the cover of the latest edition of ‘Vogue’, Jude Bellingham opened up about life on and off the pitch, the sheer weight of representing Real Madrid, social media pitfalls, and finding joy amid relentless pressure.
Jude Bellingham, currently away on international duty with England, reflected on his roots and admitted that his love for football only blossomed when his brother Jobe, now at Borussia Dortmund, took up the game. He also reminisced about the World Cup, hailing it as “the best experience” of his life.
Last season
“At times, I felt last season completely consumed me and left me tense and stressed. I started speaking to someone who really helped me through that and taught me how to manage those situations. When I get home after playing four games in 14 days, all I want to do is recover enough so I can just crash into bed when it is all done.”
How his football journey began
“Football didn’t grab my interest when it first came into my life. I didn’t want to get kicked and I had no desire to kick anyone else; I just wanted to be left alone. It was only when my brother started playing that it piqued my interest.”
What it means to play for Real Madrid
“Playing for Real Madrid… even when it rains in Madrid, there is something more, I don’t know… elegant about it? You need enough confidence to speak Spanish. You know you’ll make mistakes and probably won’t sound quite right, but if people understand what you’re trying to say, they’ll think, ‘fair play to him for trying’.”
Social media
“I think Instagram, Twitter, and platforms like that can be incredibly toxic. It isn’t a great place to broadcast what you’re doing directly. I feel supporters sometimes put players on a pedestal, and I don’t want them to see me that way. I’d rather they view me as a human being first. I love spending time with my friends and family, grabbing a coffee, or going for a stroll. If fans can grab a photo with you, they’ll be buzzing for ages, and it really only takes five seconds of your day.”
Being a role model
“I didn’t get into football to be a role model. That isn’t what I get paid for. It is my job, but it’s also my passion. A lot of people invest serious money in me. The fans are fiercely committed and spend a fortune to come out and back the team. You can’t just carry on however you like when you represent a city or a nation every time you pull on the shirt, because you are inspiring someone. Whether you like it or not, the next generation looks up to you. I prefer to view it as a privilege. I’ve always maintained that, off the pitch, I want to carry myself as a gentleman.”
2026 World Cup
“For me, the World Cup was probably the greatest experience of my life. Living through it, I made a conscious choice to savour every second. Opportunities like that don’t come around often. It is truly exceptional.”
