Jude Bellingham, the England and Real Madrid midfielder, has explained why he becomes especially emotional during the national anthem. In comments published in the English media, he said the feeling comes largely from thinking about his late grandfather, who died just before Bellingham made his England debut.
Bellingham described his grandfather as “a true patriot, English through and through,” someone who could recall details about every war, battle, king and queen. “When that moment comes, I think about him,” he said.
His first England appearance came on 12 November 2020, when he was 17 and came off the bench in the second half of a 3-0 friendly win over Ireland. He said the anthem is not just a pre-match formality for him, but “the last opportunity you have before the game to really thank the people who helped you get to this point, and to understand deeply what it means to be from England.”
He added that the moment also makes him think about the rest of his close family and the sacrifices they made for his career. “My mother, my father and my brother Jobe were and still are very important to me,” he said, noting that his brother has always been a constant, stable source of support.
