Jude Bellingham said lifting the Champions League with Real Madrid at Wembley was βthe best night of my life.β
The 20-year-old follows Steve McManaman as English-born players to have lifted the trophy with overseas sides.
Bellingham saw mum Denise, dad Mark and brother Jobe in the stands at Wembley after Madridβs 2-0 win over his former club Dortmund saw Los Blancos lift their 15th European title.
Jude Bellingham's mum, dad and brother turned up to Wembley five hours before kick off to support their boy today β€οΈ#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/d1hKTnZgBs
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 1, 2024
An emotional Bellingham told TNT Sports: βI’ve always dreamed of playing in these games.
βYou go through life and there are so many people who say you cannot do things. I was alright until I was in my mum and dad’s face.
“My little brother is there and I’m trying to be a role model for him. I cannot put it into words. Itβs the best night of my life.”
Madrid have won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in addition to the Champions League in Bellinghamβs first season and he admitted: βIt’s got to be up there in terms of the perfect season.
βI can’t have dreamed it much better than this. I’m so grateful to my team-mates, my family, the team behind the scenes: the physios, everyone there. This is a massive group effort.”
Dortmund were made to rue a series of missed chances in the first hour before Madrid sealed victory with two goals in the final 16 minutes.
“I have to be honest: they were the better team in the first half,” Bellingham told DAZN.Β βThey couldβve been two or three up. But itβs just that character… [we can] come back to haunt you.β
Bellingham said he has: βHuge respect for both clubs; the club Iβm at now is so special to me and so is my old club. It wouldnβt be possible without them.
βIβll always be grateful and always have respect for what that club did for me.”
"I was alright until I saw my mum and dad's faces there!" β€οΈ
An emotional Jude Bellingham tries to find the words to describe his feelings after winning the Champions League π#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/byHVn8IzXl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 1, 2024