Bellingham: Madrid Star Opens Up on How His Dad’s ‘Fake’ Shirt Made Him Fall in Love With Zidane

• Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham, has opened up on how his dad helped him choose Zinedine Zidane as his role model
• Bellingham earlier disclosed that he models his game after the iconic Frenchman
• He has hit the ground running at Madrid, scoring 13 goals in 13 matches across all competitions

Jude Bellingham has shared how renowned French football icon, Zinedine Zidane, became his ultimate role model.

The young talent, who has taken to life at Real Madrid like a duck to water, openly expresses his admiration for the 1998 World Cup champion, having previously stated that he models his own playing style after the French legend.

Emulating the path set by his idol, the 20-year-old was recently recognized as the top player under 21 at the 2023 Ballon d'Or Awards by winning the Kopa Trophy, per Eurosport. He made a significant transition from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.

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Notably, Bellingham assumed the iconic No. 5 jersey, a symbol associated with Zidane's tenure with Los Blancos, which spanned five seasons, from 2001 to 2006.

Recalling the intriguing story of his encounter with the legend, the 2022-2023 Bundesliga Player of the Year award recipient disclosed that his father, Mark, introduced him to the esteemed football figure.

"My father had a fake Zidane jersey he brought at the beach. He wore it everywhere, often at home. One day I asked, “By the way, who is this guy?”

"He said, “Go to YouTube and take a look.” Since then, I probably haven't stopped. Zidane represented the player I wanted to be," he said, as cited by MadridXtra.

Bellingham sets ambitious target

Meanwhile, Bellingham, having clinched the Kopa Trophy at the prestigious 2023 Ballon d'Or Awards on Monday, is now focused on securing accolades with Real Madrid.

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Acknowledging the role of his club in nurturing his talent and helping him reach new heights, Jude expressed his determination to surpass the Kopa Trophy achievement and set his sights on securing trophies with both Real Madrid and the England national team.

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Bellingham clinches Kopa Trophy

Sports Brief also reported that at the recently concluded Ballon d'Or Gala, Bellingham was officially announced as the recipient of the 2023 Kopa Trophy.

The Real Madrid midfielder was celebrated in an extravagant event held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

Established in 2018, the Kopa Trophy has been previously awarded to distinguished talents such as Kylian Mbappe, Matthijs de Ligt, Pedri Gonzalez, and, most recently, Barcelona's Pablo Gavi.