English wonderkid Jude Bellingham has added another accolade to his growing trophy cabinet, being named La Liga Player of the Season for his outstanding debut year with Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old midfielder, born in Stourbridge, England, proved instrumental in Real Madrid’s dominant La Liga title win. Bellingham’s impressive 19 goals in the league campaign played a key role in securing the championship by a 10-point margin.
His impact wasn’t limited to domestic success. Bellingham also contributed significantly in the Champions League, netting 4 goals and helping Real Madrid reach the final against Borussia Dortmund. The highly anticipated Champions League final will take place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (20:00 BST).
Bellingham’s performance saw him surpass fellow nominees for the La Liga award, including teammate Vinicius Jr, Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Artem Dovbyk (Girona), and Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona). The votes came from a combination of fans, club captains, and expert panels.
This isn’t Bellingham’s first Player of the Season award. He received the same recognition in the 2022-23 Bundesliga season while playing for Borussia Dortmund before his record-breaking move to Real Madrid for an initial €103 million (£88.5 million).
In a message, Bellingham expressed his gratitude: “This award is for my teammates, the coaching staff, and especially the fans of the best club in the world. Every time I play for this team, it’s a privilege. Hala Madrid!”
Bellingham, already a seasoned international with 29 caps and 3 goals for England, is expected to be a vital player for Gareth Southgate’s squad at the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, kicking off on June 14th. England’s first match is against Serbia on June 16th in Gelsenkirchen.
