Bellingham’s best-kept secret

Bellingham finished the season with Real Madrid showing a clear improvement in his performances. He was beginning to resemble the player who announced himself to the world during his first season in white, but his breakout at the World Cup has drawn even greater attention, and there is a clear explanation. Everything points to a physical cause that goes beyond his shoulder problems and the surgery he was forced to undergo.

Last March, Bellingham spent five days in London at the Isokinetic clinic, where former Real Madrid head medical officer Dr. Jesús Olmo serves as medical director. He travelled there on the recommendation of Dr. Pieter D’Hooghe, who had been consulted by the player and worked under the supervision of Real Madrid’s medical department, to recover from a lingering hamstring injury that had stalled and for which no effective solution had been found.

An analysis of Bellingham’s biomechanics, after a season and a half of performing below his usual standards because of physical issues, revealed significant limitations. Those problems were addressed through an intensive rehabilitation programme, and the results were immediate, both clinically and in the way he moved on the pitch.

Following the assessments, the England international left with a personalised training and conditioning programme. The results have been obvious. His physical metrics have improved across the board, and his impact on matches has increased accordingly.

The work carried out continues to pay dividends because he has remained committed to the programme. More importantly, he is expected to continue following it over the coming seasons at Madrid. It is now clear that the decline in his performances stemmed from a physical issue that has finally been corrected.

Now Bellingham is back at his very best, a level he has maintained since the start of the World Cup. He is exactly where his talent has placed him once again. This tournament has become a proving ground for football’s elite. None of the biggest names have fallen short, a reflection of the competition’s quality, but the England midfielder has used football’s biggest stage to re-establish himself. He has done so through his performances, his goals, his presence and the consistent respect he shows his opponents. He is admired once again. After a long period of struggling physically, he finally feels free, is playing in his natural position, and that has helped England reach the quarter-finals while also earning him three Player of the Match awards.

Against Mexico, he produced his finest performance in a long time. He scored twice, hit the post with another effort, repeatedly surged past defenders, prevented a goal with a crucial defensive intervention, and seemed to influence every corner of the Estadio Azteca. It was a performance worthy of one of football’s greatest venues. “It’s an incredible stadium, full of football history. It was very emotional to play here in front of such a committed and respectful crowd. I thank Mexico for the way they treated us and for how much they love football.”

With every match, Bellingham has shown that the doubts surrounding his relationship with Thomas Tuchel are now firmly in the past. “Jude must accept and respect my decisions,” Tuchel said months ago, at a time when the midfielder even sought advice from Carlo Ancelotti on how to handle his difficult relationship with the England manager.

The German has since changed his view and now describes Bellingham as one of the World Cup’s most important players. He has also used him in a role that better suits his strengths, moving him away from the deepest creative areas and closer to the opposition’s goal, where he is happiest and most effective. “He is an impressive player. He has everything,” Javier Aguirre said.

Beyond the praise for his football, Bellingham’s attitude has also stood out. He is constantly talking with teammates, looking after them, and showing genuine respect to his opponents. His gesture towards Gilberto Mora after the final whistle perfectly captured that side of his character. It was more than a routine shirt exchange. It was an expression of respect, consolation and appreciation for the effort shown by the entire Mexican team.

From a purely footballing perspective, England’s attack has been built around two pillars. Harry Kane has six goals and two assists, while the Real Madrid midfielder has contributed four goals and one assist. The pair understand each other’s movements instinctively, particularly in the wide areas from which Tuchel likes his side to attack. Bellingham has repeatedly arrived in the right place at exactly the right moment. As England have progressed through the World Cup, his influence has only continued to grow.

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