Jude Bellingham got a special World Cup award he “didn’t know” was a thing, just before England’s games.
Jude Bellingham recently got a cool surprise—a special award he didn’t even know existed for his amazing play at this summer’s World Cup.
Bellingham was a key player for England, scoring seven goals, the most any England player has ever scored in a major tournament. He helped his team reach the semi-finals before they lost to Argentina. Playing for Real Madrid now, Jude finished third in the top scorer list, just behind France’s Kylian Mbappe (10 goals) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (9 goals), tied with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The 23-year-old’s great work earned him the Bronze Boot, which he shared with Haaland. When he posted a picture of the award on Instagram, he honestly said he didn’t know the Bronze Boot was even a thing! “Bronze boot from the World Cup… Didn’t know it was a thing, but thanks anyway,” he wrote.
The Bronze Boot has been around since the 1982 World Cup. It’s given to the third highest goal scorer, alongside the Golden Boot for the top scorer. Some famous players like Gary Lineker, Ronaldo, and Neymar have won it in the past. In fact, Bellingham’s seven goals are the highest ever for a third-place scorer, so he almost deserved the Golden Boot!
Looking ahead, Bellingham has been picked again for England’s squad to play Spain, the Czech Republic, and Croatia in the Nations League. He’s in great form for Real Madrid too—three goals and three assists in eight games, with the team winning five of their first seven matches.
However, his last game was a bit frustrating. Real Madrid lost 2-1 to rivals Atletico Madrid, and Bellingham was upset after a rough tackle he suffered didn’t get a red card. Even manager Jose Mourinho showed the replay, clearly unhappy with the referees’ decisions.
Real Madrid fans might feel worried since they’re already six points behind Barcelona early in the season. But there is good news brewing! According to reports, the club is working on renewing Jude’s contract, which would keep him at Real Madrid until 2030 or 2031.
Bellingham originally signed a six-year deal when he joined from Dortmund in 2023, and this new contract would make him a long-term star for the team. So far, he’s scored 49 goals and made 36 assists in 148 games for Los Blancos. That’s something to be excited about!