Jude Bellingham don show say im be one of the best players for this World Cup. Even by Real Madrid standards, im performance for England shirt don sweet many pipo. Four goals and one assist for Harry Kane against Panama don make England fans dey sing for am for USA. But the 23-year-old no dey carry shoulder, im dey take everything for stride.
Bellingham don be big star for England since im burst onto scene for 2019. Im make im debut for Birmingham City at age 16 years and 38 days, break Trevor Francis record wey stand from 1970. Premier League scout report from that game talk say im get great athleticism, long legs, graceful running, and work-rate. But the main thing wey catch eye na im technical skill—carry ball away from pressure and find space between lines.
Birmingham City retire im number 22 shirt when im leave, even though im play only 44 games. But everybody for English football know say im be special. Germany find out quick too, as im score for im debut for Borussia Dortmund against Duisburg.
Sir Gareth Southgate, then England manager, fast-track am into senior national side after just 11 matches for Dortmund. Im make im debut as late substitute against Republic of Ireland for November 2020. For Euro 2020, Southgate restrict am to three substitute appearances, but by 2022 World Cup for Qatar, no fit hold am again. Im score im first senior international goal against Iran.
By Euro 2024, Bellingham don become key player. Im score 19 goals for Real Madrid and win La Liga and Champions League. But im swagger dey divide opinion. Im get leeway to skip media duties and film im own documentary, wey raise some eyebrows. After England lose final to Spain, im isolate himself from squad. But im overhead kick equaliser against Slovakia na one of tournament best moments, and im ‘who else’ celebration show im confidence.
Fast-forward to today, Real Madrid no don win La Liga or Champions League since 2023. Bellingham get some injuries, including shoulder surgery wey make am miss start of season. Thomas Tuchel, new England head coach, cause stir when im talk say im mama see some of Bellingham on-field behaviour as ‘bit repulsive’. Tuchel later apologise. For October, Bellingham wey be England player of the year, dem leave am out of squad. Reports for Spain say im ask to be left out to focus on fitness.
But for World Cup warm-up matches against New Zealand and Costa Rica, Bellingham start to impress. For first group game against Croatia, im score fantastic solo goal to put England 3-2 ahead. Against Panama, im score crucial goal to break deadlock. For last 32 against DR Congo, im play influential full game. Then against Mexico, im score two goals for iconic victory. In five matches, im win three player of the match awards.
Now, Bellingham dey show maturity and humility for interviews, play down im role and praise team. Im even offer one of im player awards to opponent. Im work-rate dey drive team alongside im talent, and im dey adaptable between number 10 and eight role. Im be key part of England leadership group with Kane and others.
With quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, Bellingham fit add more goals to cement im greatness. At just 23, im don achieve plenty, but im still dey mature for bright spotlight.
