What do Tom Brady and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham have in common?

In the dying moments of Sunday’s El Clásico, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham struck the decisive blow in the LaLiga title race and snatched a dramatic victory for his team. It was the midfielder’s 21st goal of his debut campaign and the sort of clutch moment that has defined his first season in the Spanish capital.

After the game NFL legend Tom Brady, who himself knows a thing or two about those crucial last-minute interventions, visited the Madrid locker room to congratulate the victorious players. Brady celebrated with the team but made special effort to greet the match-winner, Jude Bellingham, with whom he shares a particular bond.

Brady recently gained a minority stake in English second-tier side Birmingham City, Bellingham’s first club. The young Englishman was born in Stourbridge, just outside the city, and made his professional debut with the team before making the move to German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Despite only being 18 when he played his last game for Birmingham, the club retired his shirt number after he agreed to sign a new contract shortly before his departure, ensuring that the financially struggling club got a £25 million transfer fee.

Brady posed with Bellingham after the game, sporting a Birmingham City badge pin on the lapel of his suit jacket. Perhaps, one day, Brady will look to coax Bellingham back to his hometown club.

Why was Tom Brady at Real Madrid - Barcelona?

Sporting success means a lot for Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion. He is clearly interested in soccer, as his part-ownership of Birmingham City shows, and has been seen at Premier League games in the past.

In 2022 he attended a Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur game, in which his friend Harry Kane was playing. Kane has a keen interest in American football and often interacts with Brady on social media.

Brady’s reasons for attending El Clásico are less clear. Aside from the Birmingham connection with Bellingham he isn’t known to be close with any of the players, but the draw of one of soccer’s biggest rivalries is certainly a good enough reason.

In the hours before kick-off Brady posted on Instagram as he toured the Spanish capital; taking a stroll through Puerta del Sol, taking a look at the recently-refurbished Bernabéu, and testing out Madrid’s electric ‘Lime’ scooters. The Bernabéu is set to host an NFL game in 2025, suggesting that Brady may be back in town before too long.