Jude Bellingham returned to prominence after a turbulent pre‑season at Real Madrid, where the club has not captured La Liga or the Champions League since 2023. Shoulder surgery sidelined him early, and the club’s off‑the‑pitch unrest left his form uneven.

The coaching row with Thomas Tuchel intensified when Tuchel branded Bellingham’s on‑field behaviour as “repulsive” during a press conference, prompting a public apology. In October, after Bellingham earned England’s player of the year, he was omitted from Tuchel’s squad, sparking speculation that the midfielder asked to sit out to regain fitness.

World Cup warm‑ups reversed the narrative. Bellingham netted a solo finish against Croatia and the decisive strike against Panama, then scored twice in a 3‑0 win over Mexico, earning threeentities of the match awards in five games.

His versatility, moving between number 10 and 8, and his leadership alongside Harry Kane give England a creative engine for the quarter‑final against Norway, positioning Bellingham as a central catalyst for the team’s progression.