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Jude Bellingham isn’t just building a reputation as one of the world’s most talented footballers on the pitch – he’s becoming one of the most respected players off it too after his latest act of kindness.
The Real Madrid sensation will have done little to stop the hysteria surrounding him in the Spanish top flight this season after he was spotted covering a young ballboy with a blanket during the club’s cup win over Arandina when noticing the child was cold.
Bellingham was an unused substitute for Madrid’s 3-1 victory over the Spanish minnows, meaning he was unable to warm himself up on the pitch throughout the 90 minutes.
Instead, he was seen covered up in a blanket on the bench – before noticing the youngster standing ahead of him near the touchline.
He asked the boy to come to towards him, before he told the England international he was not allowed to leave his post, so Bellingham approached him and placed the blanket on top of him.
Jude Bellingham is quickly becoming football’s Mr Nice Guy after his latest act of kindness
Bellingham spotted a ball boy suffering in the cold weather during Madrid’s win at Arandina
The England man then made sure the ball boy took his blanket by wrapping it around him
That heartwarming moment led to the boy claiming it was his ‘happiest day’ after being interviewed after – and it’s just the latest in a string of kind acts from the 20-year-old.
‘Jude Bellingham is my favourite,’ the child is reported to have said after. ‘I didn’t understand what he told me. Very nice gesture, best day ever.’
Even before the game, Bellingham had stopped to pose with other excited ball boys who were clamouring to get near him – showing the former Dortmund man always gives back.
Making time for people is one thing that sets Bellingham aside from others in the game and he’s no stranger to making a classy gesture.
Even during a rivalry as fesity as the Madrid derby – the fierce clash between Real Madrid and Atletico in September – Bellingham ensured he paid respect to the opposition as eagled-eyed fans spotted him walking around the Atletico badge emblazoned on the pitch.
It’s not the first time Bellingham has shown respect – after he made an effort to step over the Atletico badge after the Madrid derby
A video shows Bellingham heading towards the dressing room after their 3-1 loss to their rivals, but though he will have been disappointed with the game, he still attempted to avoid stamping on the club’s badge.
He suddenly looked up after realising he was about to step on the logo, before quickly adjusting his feet to step around it.
His kind acts are no surprise to those in Bellingham’s inner circle and those who have played with him.
His former coach Mike Dodds – who was integral to his upbringing after working with him at boyhood club Birmingham – called him ‘a wonderful human being’.
‘He’s just a magnificent human being, he’s a role model not just for the young kids of Birmingham, now the nation,’ Dodds told BBC.
‘He’s got compassion, he’s got complete empathy for people around him. From a human perspective I haven’t got enough words to praise him with.
Bellingham has been described as a ‘wonderful human being’ who is grounded and mature
‘He keeps in contact with me regularly – he doesn’t have to do that. He’s said some wonderful things about me which I’ll be forever grateful for. I think that just sums up the measure of the young man.’
After leaving Birmingham for Dortmund, his team-mate at the German club Julian Brandt backed up those words, praising his character and the mature way he deals with the huge publicity he gets.
‘He is a really good guy and we have a lot of fun with him,’ he said. ‘If you want to have dinner with him, it’s no problem. You speak with him, and he’ll come. If you want to have a beer with him, it’s no problem either.
‘With all the pressure he gets, all the publicity, he’s just a boy. For me, that makes him special, it’s astonishing how he deals with it.’
And even when things get heated, Bellingham refuses to revert from his down-to-earth nature.
His former Borussia Dortmund colleagues have waxed lyrical about his human qualities too
Bellingham received some stick during Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis last month, which saw the England man open the scoring.
But instead of reacting, Bellingham decided to blow kisses into the crowd.
And after the game, Bellingham headed into the Betis dressing room after a number of players had asked for his shirt.
He managed to get three shirts for all the player who had requested one, before staying in the opposition changing room to chat with them and discuss the game.
Bellingham has also shown his humility in the face of disappointments in his career – the perfect example of which came during the Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony in 2021.
The 20-year-old was hailed in 2021 for his graceful response to missing out on winning the Young Sports Personality of the Year award
Bellingham had travelled all the way from Germany – having been a Dortmund player at the time – for the event, after being nominated for Young Sports Personality of the Year.
But after missing out on the eventual prize to 13-year-old skateboarder and Olympic bronze medal winner Sky Brown, Bellingham did not show any disdain whatsoever and instead proceeded to show his gratitude for being included.
BBC reporter Ron Chakraborty noticed his sterling conduct after watching him make his way round the room to thank those who had been involved.
Chakraborty wrote on X: ‘A memory I will take from the SPOTY is Jude Bellingham going round the room of contenders, guests, staff and caterers to say thank you and wish them well before he left.’
