Jude Bellingham Named England's Men's Player of the Year
Jude Bellingham has been awarded England's men's player of the year for the 2024-25 season.
The 22-year-old midfielder scored once in eight matches as England secured promotion in the Nations League under interim manager Lee Carsley, before beginning World Cup qualifying with new coach Thomas Tuchel.
Bellingham topped the supporters' vote, surpassing Declan Rice and Harry Kane, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
Currently playing for Real Madrid, Bellingham is only the second player to win this accolade while representing a non-English club, following Owen Hargreaves, who won the award in 2006 while at Bayern Munich.
Throughout the season, Bellingham scored against Greece in the Nations League in October 2024, assisted twice, and won a penalty against the Republic of Ireland in November. Additionally, he provided an assist in the World Cup qualifying match against Albania in March.
After undergoing shoulder surgery in July, which sidelined him until September, Bellingham has regained fitness and is expected to be available for England's upcoming matches against Wales on October 9 and Latvia on October 14, both scheduled for 19:45 BST.
Cole Palmer was the recipient of the player of the year award last year, while Bukayo Saka won it for two consecutive years prior to that.
The winner of the women's player of the year award will be announced later this autumn, with Alessia Russo among the 18 players shortlisted after winning the Euros with the Lionesses for the second time since claiming the individual trophy last year.
Bellingham's Quality Will Be Crucial for Tuchel's World Cup Aspirations
Bellingham's recognition as England's men's player of the year underscores his significance to the national team.
He has delivered remarkable performances, including a stunning overhead kick in stoppage time against Slovakia during the Euros last year, and at just 22 years old, he has already earned 44 international caps.
His influence has only grown over the past season, contributing to five goals in the eight matches he played.
Bellingham has started all World Cup qualifiers he was fit for under Tuchel, although their relationship faced tension when the England manager described Bellingham's on-field behavior as "repulsive" during a live interview. Tuchel has since apologized and frequently praises Bellingham's abilities.
Although Bellingham missed England's impressive 5-0 victory over Serbia last month, he is expected to return to the lineup for the upcoming international fixtures as Tuchel seeks to finalize his best XI.
With experience from three major tournaments, trophy wins at Real Madrid, and a role in the leadership group of the England squad, Bellingham's quality will be essential if Tuchel aims to lead England to World Cup glory next summer.