Jude Bellingham’s Football Journey: From Childhood Heroes to Embracing Zidane’s Legacy

In an interview with L’Equipe after being honored with the Kopa Trophy, Jude Bellingham shared insights into his footballing journey, starting with his childhood idols.

Bellingham revealed that as a young football enthusiast, he admired the Birmingham players who secured victory in the League Cup at Wembley in 2011. He considered Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner, and Lee Bowyer as his heroes during that time.

As he delved deeper into the world of football, Bellingham’s father became a significant influence on his life. He later looked up to English football icons Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard because of their prominence in the sport.

However, it was a chance encounter with a Zinedine Zidane shirt that sparked a transformation in Bellingham’s footballing aspirations. Bellingham’s father owned a replica Zidane shirt, and after inquiring about the legendary figure, his father encouraged him to explore Zidane’s artistry on YouTube.

Zidane swiftly became the player Bellingham aspired to emulate. The young talent was fortunate enough to meet Zidane during the 2022 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool, an experience that left him in awe of Zidane’s presence and footballing legacy.

When Bellingham joined Real Madrid, he inherited Zidane’s iconic number 5 shirt, and he has excelled while wearing it, scoring an impressive 13 goals in his first 13 appearances for the club.