Jude Bellingham's remarkable rise continued as he netted England's winner in their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.
The 20-year-old from Stourbridge near Birmingham, who plays for Real Madrid, is the first European player to make an appearance at three major international tournaments before turning 21.
After a season when he won the Spanish title and Champions League with his club side, Bellingham is the second favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or award - the prize that goes to the player voted the world's best."He's come out today with the attitude knowing it's his game," said former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand on BBC One.
Bellingham went on to join a children's team set up by his dad Mark, a former non-league footballer, and Wooldridge - Stourbridge Juniors. Mike Dodds was one of Bellingham's coaches in the Blues academy and said: "He was my best coach educator, because if he wasn't happy with a session, if he wasn't happy with the kind of route that his development was going, he would be the first person to let me know his thoughts."
Bellingham became the youngest senior Birmingham City player ever at the age of 16 years and 38 days.But Birmingham knew he was destined for much greater things and after one season in the first team, he was sold to Borussia Dortmund for £25m in the summer of 2020. His three years in Germany yielded 24 goals in 132 games - with 14 of those goals coming in his final season.
He was pictured in tears as he left the pitch for the final time as a Dortmund player - because he had another big move to come.On winning the Champions League, Bellingham said: "It's got to be up there in terms of the perfect season. I can't put it into words, it's the best night of my life." He netted twice, including a stoppage-time winner, in Real's 2-1 win at Barcelona in October, and then struck in the final minute at the Bernabeu in April.
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