How Jude Bellingham won the 2023 Kopa Trophy
The Jude Bellingham legend continues.
On Monday night, Bellingham became the first Englishman to win the Kopa Trophy as he convincingly beat out the likes of Jamal Musiala and former winner Pedri to the award.
The superstar midfielder’s rise has been meteoric ever since Birmingham’s decision to retire Bellingham’s #24 shirt was deemed comically pre-emptive back in 2020. „Well, you’re not laughing now, are you?“
Bellingham’s simply ludicrous work at Real Madrid has seen him garner worldwide attention, but the midfielder won the 2023 Kopa Trophy award off the back of his exploits in Germany and with the England national team.
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
Competition finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bundesliga |
31 |
8 |
5 |
2nd |
|
Champions League |
7 |
4 |
1 |
Round of 16 |
|
DFB-Pokal |
4 |
2 |
1 |
Quarter-finals |
Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to change system and offer Bellingham immense attacking freedom has seen the midfielder consistently pop up on the scoresheet at the start of his career in the Spanish capital. At Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham wasn’t granted such luxury.
The England international was instead used in a more disciplined box-to-box role where he was expected to contribute in all phases and serve as Dortmund’s key midfield driving force. Bellingham certainly did that while also improving his goal tally from the previous season. He scored just three Bundesliga goals in 2021/22, but eight in 2022/23.
Bellingham was one of several key contributors as Dortmund looked poised to finally break Bayern Munich’s prolonged monopoly over the Bundesliga. Bellingham inspired BVB to convincing wins over Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach in May, but a knee injury meant he missed the final two games of the season. With the midfielder only fit enough for the bench on the last day, BVB surrendered their advantage at the summit by drawing 2-2 with Mainz.
As a result, Bellingham’s final season in Dortmund ended trophyless. While the Englishman starred during the Champions League group stages, scoring four goals in Dortmund’s first four games, including one against Manchester City, the German side were knocked out in the round of 16 by Chelsea.
Dortmund were also knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the quarter-finals by RB Leipzig.
|
Competition |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2022 World Cup |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Nations League |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
2024 Euro Qualifiers |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Bellingham’s England numbers don’t exactly jump out, but his impact on Gareth Southgate’s midfield has nonetheless been profound.
The former Birmingham starlet played a peripheral role during the Three Lions‘ memorable Euro 2020 campaign, but the midfielder emerged as a leading man at the 2022 World Cup. Bellingham started all five of England’s games in Qatar as he became just the second teenager to score for his country at the World Cup.
The midfielder scored in England’s rout of Iran before wonderfully assisting Jordan Henderson against Senegal in the round of 16 following a trademark burst from midfield. Bellingham was then superb as he duelled future teammate Aurelien Tchouameni in the quarter-finals, but England were brutally knocked out by France after a late Harry Kane penalty miss.
It was a coming-of-age tournament for Bellingham, whose supreme talent was immediately recognisable on football’s biggest stage.