Jude Bellingham was left with one overriding emotion following England’s heartbreaking World Cup exit – and it was not regret. Instead, the 23-year-old Real Madrid superstar spoke of his pride following the Three Lions’ agonising semi-final defeat to Argentina in Atlanta.
While there is an acknowledgement that Thomas Tuchel’s side came up short, Bellingham remains convinced they enjoyed a tournament worth celebrating. And Bellingham played down claims he rowed with Lionel Messi after footage circulated online showed the pair exchanging heated words during the match. Messi ultimately weaving his magic to set up two goals for Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez as Argentina turned the game around in the dying minutes.
He explained: “I think the one kind of thing that’s overriding for me is pride. Proud to represent my nation and proud to have given them a few good moments along the way.
“Yeah, I know I’ll be back, and we’ll be back, and we’ll give everything we’ve got to try and bring it home for us.”
While Bellingham wished Messi well ahead of the final, saying: “We were discussing a foul actually. It was nothing bad. I’m sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal [out of it]. But it was nothing big really.
“I thought there was a foul earlier and he said: ‘What about the one on me?’ I said: ‘You’re strong enough to take it.’ You know what I mean?
“It was a privilege to play against him, it was nothing like that against him. I’m obviously on the losing side which hurts a lot, but it was a privilege to line up against one of the best.”
Lionel Messi stares down Jude Bellingham (Image: DAZN)
Jude Bellingham walks away laughing (Image: DAZN)
Bellingham, who ended the tournament level with Harry Kane on six World Cup goals, became the first player to find the net in back-to-back knockout fixtures since Diego Maradona in 1986.
He was the first player to score two goals in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986.
Yet his heroics ultimately proved insufficient to propel England into their first World Cup final since 1966. Bellingham continued: “I think all the lads have done everything we could over the course of the tournament.
“You can’t fault the effort, the fight and all of those things. That’s the life, I suppose, of a footballer at this level – the more beautiful a journey is, the more heartbreaking the end is.
“I’m really proud of all my teammates. I think they put in a magnificent shift over the past few weeks.”
