An emotional return to Birmingham for Jude Bellingham is not being ruled out, although former Blues boss Steve Bruce has told GOAL that it could be a “long, long time” before such a move is considered. The No.22 shirt at St Andrew’s, which has been retired, is waiting to be filled again by a home-grown hero that is currently starring as a ‘Galactico’ with Real Madrid.
Jude Bellingham produced a masterclass at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid dismantled Malaga to maintain their flawless start to the La Liga campaign. The England international was the catalyst for a dominant 4-0 victory that keeps Jose Mourinho’s side at the summit of the table.
Jude Bellingham has credited new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho for helping him rediscover his best form after a frustrating two-year spell. The England midfielder believes a tactical tweak has given him the licence to roam, allowing him to pull the strings in the Spanish capital once more. He is determined to carry this early momentum into the upcoming European campaign.
Kylian Mbappé delivered an absolute masterclass by scoring a brilliant hat-trick to guide Real Madrid to a dominant 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. The French forward was perfectly supported by Jude Bellingham, who provided two crucial assists. Meanwhile, Vinícius Júnior added a goal of his own before sharing a heartwarming celebration with manager José Mourinho at the Bernabéu.
Jose Mourinho once helped to make Frank Lampard the best goalscoring midfielder in world football, but can he repeat the trick with Jude Bellingham? Blancos legend Steve McManaman has explained to GOAL why one England international superstar faces challenges posed by team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior when it comes to emulating another Three Lions icon.
Reigan Heskey has left Manchester City for a new challenge in Germany, with the 18-year-old’s father - ex-Liverpool and England striker Emile - telling GOAL why that transfer call was made. The highly-rated forward, who has starred for his country at U18 level, has decided to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham by heading to the Bundesliga.
Jude Bellingham is “not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo” and cannot “win games by himself”, John Barnes has told GOAL, with the England and Real Madrid superstar considered to be more of a Bryan Robson-esque No.8 than a creative No.10. The all-action midfielder has often been pushed into a more advanced role, but his ability is maximised when operating in a deeper-lying berth.
Emmanuel Petit believes the "anger and ambition" Jude Bellingham showed at the World Cup should carry directly into his role at Real Madrid, urging Jose Mourinho to lean on both the England midfielder and Kylian Mbappe as genuine leaders as the club looks to rebuild around a stronger collective identity.
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has officially been unveiled as the face of EA SPORTS FC 27, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight for the world’s premier football simulation. The French captain’s move to the Santiago Bernabeu has solidified his status as the game's ultimate commercial powerhouse, ending a four-year hiatus from the iconic cover.
After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.
The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.
England at least managed to put a bit of shine on their World Cup campaign. The highly-entertaining, 6-4 win over France in Saturday's bronze-medal match didn't change the fact that they collapsed in the semi-final against Argentina three days earlier, but it did at least save a little bit of face.
Jude Bellingham has officially etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Englishman to ever score seven goals at a single World Cup tournament. The Real Madrid sensation reached the unprecedented milestone during a chaotic bronze-medal match against France, surpassing the previous benchmarks set by national icons.
And so the wait goes on. England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday means their quest for a first international trophy since 1966 will stretch into a seventh decade. The hope is that drought will come to an end in two years' time when the Three Lions co-host the 2028 European Championship, but will England ever again reach a World Cup final, never mind lift the most famous trophy in the sport?
Jude Bellingham has urged England fans to maintain their incredible unity after the Three Lions suffered a devastating 2-1 defeat against Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. The 23-year-old midfielder admitted he struggled to find the words to process the heartbreak before sharing an uplifting poem given to him by the team's driver, Michael Chandler.
