Jude Bellingham has added another individual honour to his remarkable 2026 as England supporters voted him their men’s Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.
The Real Madrid midfielder was recognised after a standout World Cup campaign in which he scored seven goals, setting a new record for an England men’s player at a major tournament.
Bellingham’s goals helped England reach the latter stages of the tournament and included two-goal performances against Mexico and Norway during the knockout rounds.
The 23-year-old was also the youngest European player to appear at four major international tournaments.
“It feels great,” Bellingham said. “It’s a huge honour to be recognised by the fans again. It’s not something you think about when you’re playing for your country, but it’s obviously a beautiful little addition to the great summer we had, and the honour of playing for my country.”
The award was decided through a supporters’ vote on the official England app.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was among those impressed by Bellingham’s influence during the World Cup.
“He was one of the players of the tournament, not only for us but of the whole tournament,” Tuchel said.
“He lived up to his full potential. You could just see what a competitor and what a machine he is. He just thrives under pressure, he loves these moments, he loves these stages and it brings out the very best in him.”
Bellingham’s recognition came alongside another milestone for captain Harry Kane. The England striker finished as the team’s leading scorer for a seventh successive season after scoring 12 international goals across the campaign.
Kane matched his best tally for England and described the achievement as a “showcase of consistency”, while thanking his team-mates and coaches for their support.
For Bellingham, however, the latest award underlines the impact he made during a World Cup in which he established another landmark in England’s history.
