Jude Bellingham has been named England Player of the Year for the 2025–2026 season, retaining the award for the second year running.
The Real Madrid midfielder secured the honor following a vote by fans on the official England national team app, choosing from an 18-player shortlist of individuals who featured in at least half of the Three Lions’ matches over the campaign.
“It is an amazing feeling and a massive honor to be recognized by the fans once again after the special summer we all shared,” Bellingham stated following the announcement.
The midfielder earned 12 international caps during the eligibility period, starting nine matches while registering seven goals and one assist.
All seven of Bellingham’s goals came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, establishing the highest single-tournament tally by an England player at a major tournament and propelling the national team to its best World Cup performance since 1966.
He scored a decisive brace in a historic 3–2 round-of-32 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, before netting both goals in a 2–1 quarter-final win against Norway.
Bellingham also became the youngest European player to appear in four major tournaments—aged 22 years and 353 days against Croatia—before becoming the youngest player to reach 50 caps for England six days later.
“He was one of the players of the tournament, not just for us,” head coach Thomas Tuchel remarked. “He thrives under pressure and delivers his absolute best on the biggest stages.” Bellingham becomes only the fourth player to win the award in consecutive years, joining Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, and Bukayo Saka.
