How Jude Bellingham keeps winning hearts beyond football

When you talk about some of the most talented footballers around, Jude Bellingham’s name almost always comes up (and the same goes for lists of the most good-looking ones too). But what exactly makes this footballer stand out from the rest?

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the spotlight fell on Jude for a different reason. A video reposted The Straits Times showed the England midfielder approaching a Venezuelan reporter with disability who was calling out for him.

In the video, the reporter was seen calling out to the England players for a quick interview after their match against Mexico. While several players walked past, Jude Bellingham and teammate Noni Madueke were among those who stopped to speak with him. Jude also went a step further, sending a message of support to Venezuela in Spanish following the devastating earthquakes that claimed thousands of lives. It may seem like a small gesture, but viewers were quick to point it out as a sign of just how kind and down-to-earth he is. The top comment on the post read, “Respect to his mother for raising such a selfless, kind gentleman.” The moment struck a chord with fans everywhere. At the time of writing, the video on The Straits Times’ Instagram has racked up 229K likes and counting.

This wasn’t a one-off. Back in 2024, Jude Bellingham did something equally heartwarming on the pitch. Just before kickoff, he noticed that the young fan accompanying him onto the field, a boy in a wheelchair, was shivering in the cold. Without a second thought, Jude took off his own jacket, wrapped it around the boy’s shoulders. It was a small, unscripted moment that melted hearts everywhere.

That being said, the English professional footballer may be a force to be reckoned with on the pitch, but he’s clearly scoring just as many points off it. As more fans turn their attention to him, it’s only natural to wonder what he’s really like beyond the game. If you’re curious to find out more about the heartthrob, keep reading.

He didn’t like football at first, in fact, he’d rather pick daisies

Most kids take to sports like football naturally. Jude didn’t. In an interview with L’Equipe, France’s daily sports newspaper, he shared:

“When I was a kid I used to go to training sessions and I used to pick the grass, the flowers, I used to make necklaces with the daisies to give them to my mother who was outside the field watching me.”

“It was like that, really, and the best part of this whole story is that it’s probably the reason why I ended up getting involved in soccer in the end.”

“My dad would take me to practice and tell me if you want to play tag, play catch or go pick flowers.”

“My parents never forced me to do anything in that sense as long as I behaved well and helped others.”

“I guess the world to me was the playground and they still remind me of that today.”

His passion for football 

In the same interview with L’Equipe, he opened up about how his love for the game grew:

“My love for soccer comes from competition, to be honest,” he reflected.

“I’ve always been very competitive, even when I played tag, I wanted to always catch the best flowers or be the fastest at hide-and-seek, and when I was growing up I had some problems because when I lost I would get very angry, I refused to shake hands with my opponent.

“I learned from that that you have to be respectful, but it’s mostly the competition that made me love this sport.”

Why he wore No. 22 at Birmingham City

Footballers usually pick their jersey numbers for tradition, sentiment, or simply because it’s what’s left available. Jude’s story is a bit different. At Birmingham City, his youth coach noticed he was versatile enough to play three positions: a 4 (holding midfielder), an 8 (box-to-box), and a 10 (attacking midfielder). Add those numbers up, and you get 22.

He played alongside Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund

From 2020 to 2022, Jude and Norway’s Erling Haaland were teammates at Borussia Dortmund, playing games together before Haaland left for Manchester City and Jude moved to Real Madrid a year later. Fans still love their bromance online. 

TikTok is full of clips of the two looking out for each other on the pitch, like Haaland stepping in to defend Jude during an on-field argument. 

More interestingly, their paths cross again on Sunday, 12 July at 5am, when Norway takes on England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.

He started playing professionally at just 16

Jude started playing organised football at around age seven, joining his local Sunday league team, Stourbridge Juniors, coached by his father. He soon joined the Birmingham City academy, which set him on the path to his professional debut in August 2019, at just 16 years old.

His mum moved with him

When 16-year-old Jude left Birmingham for Borussia Dortmund, his mother Denise moved with him. She later relocated to Madrid too, where they reportedly still share an apartment. Jude has credited her as having a bigger influence on his career than any coach or manager.

He takes his studies seriously

Before football took over, Jude completed his private education at Priory School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, while coming up through the Birmingham City academy. He later graduated from Loughborough College in 2021 with a BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Sport.

His signature celebration

You’ve probably seen it. Jude sprinting toward the fans with his arms flung wide open. Turns out it wasn’t planned at all. It just happened naturally back at Birmingham City in 2019, and he’s kept doing it ever since. 

His middle name is a tribute to his grandfather

Full name: Jude Victor William Bellingham. That “Victor William” bit isn’t random, but it’s a nod to his grandfather. He’s even said he thinks of him during the national anthem, once describing him as “an Englishman through and through.” So every time Jude steps out for England, he’s carrying a bit of family history with him.

He’s dating US influencer Ashlyn Castro

On the personal side, Jude’s been linked to American model and influencer Ashlyn Castro since early 2025, and the two are pretty open about their relationship and she’s often spotted cheering him on at his Madrid matches.

Ashlyn, 28 and originally from California, has been by his side for most of the World Cup run. She was seen in the stands in an England shirt during the Panama match, and the couple were photographed together after the Croatia game in Dallas on 17 June 2026.

The rumours actually started back in early 2024 after fans noticed the two interacting online, and by early 2025, she’d already met his parents at a Real Madrid game. And like a lot of celebrity couples these days, word has it they first matched on Raya.