It’s easy to forget that Jude Bellingham is just 20 years of age, such is the footballer’s maturity both on and off the pitch. But he is. He was born in Birmingham in 2003 and is considerably better than me at absolutely everything, especially dressing.
Bellingham, who became one of the most expensive players in history when he moved from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid last summer for $105 million, has hit the ground running since arriving in the Spanish capital, scoring nine goals in his first ten appearances, including a last minute winner in the Champions League group stage.
This, on top of becoming England’s star player and, according to Transfermarkt, the fourth-most valuable player in world football right now, and you could say it's been a pretty successful 2023 for Bellingham all things told.
So I suppose for me, as a Style Writer, the only thing I could potentially have over Bellingham is fashion, right? Wrong. He’s impeccable at that, too. In fact, he makes dressing look as easy as he does playing football.
Sure, he’s only 20, but Bellingham’s level of sartorial fluency is way beyond his years. Of course he’ll be wearing a tracksuit more often than not such is the nature of being a professional footballer, but when uniforms aren’t required, the Brummie never misses.
Take the black Louis Vuitton floral two-piece suit he wore with a contrasting white neckerchief to Pharrell’s debut show during Paris Fashion Week, for instance. Or perhaps how well he pulled off Real Madrid’s pre-match Zegna outfit prior to their game against Braga (where he, again, scored the winner).
Bellingham isn't the only footballer with good personal style nowadays. Erling Haaland, Manchester City's Norwegian giant, flexed a suave baby blue suit at a Dolce & Gabbana runway show earlier this year. While Hector Bellerin has long been lauded as football's finest.
For Bellingham, though, everything – and I mean everything – he touches right now turns to gold right now. And just when I thought that being one of the world’s most exciting footballers, the future of the English game, and Real Madrid’s main man was enough, it turns out he can dress exceptionally well, too.
