Jude Bellingham is on top of world football after what has been an incredible week on a person level. He marked an amazing El Clasico debut by scoring two goals to help Real Madrid get a narrow win over Barcelona. Days after that, he also won the coveted Kopa Trophy at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
With the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi era now in the rearview, Bellingham is making an early play to be the next ‘icon’ to dominate Europe. He’s seen his performances uplifted since his move to Real Madrid, for whom the youngster has scored 12 goals in 14 matches.
While Bellingham might be soaring high on confidence, the fact is that he is still only 20. The Englishman is still a child inside who needs help with a lot of things from his parents. Jude’s mother, Denise Bellingham, has played a pivotal role over his successful early career. She is the one to keep him grounded and away from controversy, acting as his guide and manager too.
However, Mrs. Bellingham didn’t really seem to be in the mood for smiles at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Because he arrived at the show with his parents, Jude decided to celebrate his achievements with them. After winning the Kopa Trophy (best young player award), he posed with the trophy with his parents.
However, Denise had little intention of cracking a smile for the cameras. While his dad Mark Bellingham – now a licensed FIFA agent – beamed wide with pride, Denise had a more stoic and serious look. This has gotten many fans wondering if she might be the kind of parent to never be satisfied with her son’s achievements.
She doesn’t exactly come off as cheerful in this snap, looking more like a superintendent in a crime drama. Denise might be portrayed as this strict parent always pushing her child to do more and more, but she’s been vital to shaping Jude into the superstar he is today.
Just before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, it was actually Denise who helped her son dress up for the occasion. The Real Madrid star posted evidence on his Instagram to show him being dressed by his mum and captioned ‘All them people are like ‘he’s so mature’. I can’t even get changed on my own. My life’s a lie.”
Ironically even in these pictures, Denise has this super serious expression as she helps tie Bellingham’s bow tie. While she might have this strict persona in public, Jude’s mum has been nothing but really supportive of her son in his ventures outside of England.
She works in the human resources industry but has taken special time to care for her child. Denise moved in with Jude when he moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 to help him get settled in and manage all his personal choirs. She has also moved with him to Madrid, helping him find an ideal house and get his personal requirements in order.
Indeed, Denise even works as the person to drive him to Real Madrid’s training sessions on most days. She takes care of his personal well-being and ensures that he doesn’t stray away into a partying culture. Jude is extremely appreciative of his mum, whom he has hailed as a ‘queen.’
Ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Englishman had also hailed her for playing a bigger role in his development than his coaches, saying: “The role my mum is playing is massive. I think at the minute it is probably the biggest role of anyone, even probably more than my coaches and managers, to be honest.”
Denise Bellingham might seem cold and expressionless in public, but she discreetly works hard to help transform her son into a disciplined mentality monster who seems destined for greatness in years to come.