Jude Bellingham reveals secret signal he shares with Erling Haaland after years of friendship

Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland entered Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal knowing there was no room for friendship once the whistle blew.

Bellingham’s England and Haaland’s Norway battled for a place in the semifinals, with England eventually escaping with a dramatic 2-1 victory after extra time. But before the competition, cameras captured a much lighter moment between two of soccer’s biggest stars.

In the tunnel before kickoff, Bellingham walked over to Haaland and playfully kicked him, a moment that left some fans wondering whether there was a deeper meaning behind the unusual greeting. As it turns out, there was. According to Bellingham, it was not a random gesture or a sign of aggression. It was a continuation of a tradition the two stars developed years ago while playing together at Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s just our thing,” Bellingham explained after the match.

The England midfielder revealed that the pair would regularly kick each other after goals, during training sessions and around the club as a playful way of saying hello.

“It was never anything serious,” Bellingham said. “It was just our way of saying hello.”

The two players have since become global superstars and rivals at the highest level, but that small gesture is a reminder of where their friendship began.

A Dortmund connection that created two superstars

Before Bellingham became the face of Real Madrid and Haaland became Manchester City’s record-breaking striker, the pair were teenage teammates at Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham arrived in Germany in 2020 as one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders after leaving Birmingham City, while Haaland had already announced himself as one of soccer’s most dangerous young forwards after joining Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg. Despite their age difference (Haaland is two years older), the pair quickly developed a close relationship inside the Dortmund dressing room.

On the field, their connection was obvious. Bellingham’s ability to win possession and create chances often complemented Haaland’s explosive movement and finishing. Off the field, their personalities also matched. Both were known for their competitiveness, confidence and desire to improve.

During their time together, Dortmund featured regularly in the Champions League and Bundesliga, giving the young stars a chance to develop alongside one another before eventually moving on to bigger challenges.

Haaland left Dortmund for Manchester City in 2022, while Bellingham joined Real Madrid in 2023 after becoming one of Europe’s most complete midfielders. Their careers took different paths, but their friendship remained.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding Bellingham’s future before his move to Real Madrid was whether he could end up at Manchester City. The club was among the teams interested in signing him, and Haaland was reportedly one of the people trying to convince his former teammate to make the move to England. Bellingham joked that the pair still tease each other about that period.

“I know how much he tried to convince me to join Manchester City back then,” Bellingham said.

Instead, Bellingham chose Real Madrid, where he quickly became one of the club’s most important players and continued his rise toward becoming one of soccer’s biggest names.

Friends before and after the final whistle

Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal showed the complicated balance between friendship and competition. Bellingham and Haaland may share a close bond, but both players understood what was at stake. Haaland was trying to lead Norway to its deepest World Cup run in history. Bellingham was attempting to help England reach another semifinal and continue its pursuit of a first World Cup title since 1966.

“There are no favors on the pitch,” Bellingham said. “We both want to win.”

That competitive edge was clear throughout the match, with neither player willing to give the other an advantage. But once the game ended, the rivalry disappeared.

That is the unique nature of soccer. Teammates become opponents, childhood friends become competitors, and small traditions survive even on the biggest stages in the sport. For Bellingham and Haaland, a simple kick in the tunnel was a reminder of a friendship built years ago in Dortmund, which has followed them all the way to the World Cup stage.

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