Jude Bellingham congratulated his compatriot Harry Kane on winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, using the “GOAT” symbol, even though the Bayern Munich striker secured the award ahead of Bellingham’s Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé.
The congratulatory message came in a comment from the English midfielder’s verified account on the England national team’s Instagram post celebrating their captain’s victory, rather than on a post by Mbappé or a direct comparison between the contenders.
Bellingham simply commented with a goat emoji and a red heart “🐐❤️”, a sports gesture commonly used to represent “Greatest Of All Time,” offering Kane a public tribute following the conclusion of the award race.
The gesture carries a backdrop that extends beyond the coronation night; both players represent England and were key figures in leading their country to a bronze medal at the 2026 World Cup, where Bellingham scored seven goals compared to Kane’s six.
Bellingham’s praise for his captain is nothing new; speaking to Hayters in early October, he said of Kane: “Nothing he does surprises me,” adding: “He’s a role model,” after the striker equaled Peter Shilton’s record for international caps with the national team.
Conversely, L’Équipe had previously covered the relationship between Bellingham and Mbappé prior to their World Cup clash, describing it as a dynamic between two strong personalities that had experienced some friction alongside mutual respect, noting that being club teammates at Real Madrid did not necessarily imply a close friendship.
That context leaves room for interpretations regarding Mbappé, yet the comment itself contains no criticism of the Frenchman nor any indication of a new rift; the congratulations were directed to Bellingham’s national team captain, whom he had publicly backed prior to the winner’s announcement.
For his part, Kane specifically singled out Bellingham for praise following his coronation, stating: “Having players like Saka and Bellingham allows me to play this way,” emphasizing his teammates’ role in helping him achieve the most significant individual accolade of his career.
