“I excel in my craft, but everything else? Not so much”: Jude Bellingham opens up about his life on and off the field.

November 12, 2026 sportnow Though he’s excelling on the football field, Jude Bellingham acknowledges that there’s still a lot for him to grasp about life beyond the sport.

At just 23, the England midfielder was instrumental in leading the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals, scoring a remarkable seven goals during the tournament in the US.

His off-pitch appeal is also growing, having traded his football kit last week for a pair of Calvin Klein briefs in his highly-praised debut campaign for the fashion brand.

And on Tuesday, the £88million Real Madrid prodigy reached yet another milestone, securing his first cover for British Vogue.

Titled Football’s Prince of Hearts, the nostalgic photoshoot features him donning tweed designer suits, Adidas wear, and posing in a striking red BMW convertible.

Despite the classy car appearance, Jude confessed he hasn’t yet obtained his driving license.

Inside Bellingham’s £1m supercar collection despite not being able to drive

Jude Bellingham reveals he preferred making daisy chains to playing football

In a sponsorship agreement with BMW, last year saw Real Madrid players given the keys to hybrid XMs, each valued at £155,000.

However, Jude, who is back in action tonight as England takes on Croatia in the UEFA Nations League group stage match, conveyed to Vogue that he hasn’t had the best luck behind the wheel.

The West Midlands native, now valued at around £40million, stated: “I don’t actually have a license. I tried while in Germany [with Borussia Dortmund], but I couldn’t understand the road signs.

“I had one driving lesson in Spain, but that didn’t go well.”

While he may excel on the pitch, the scenario is a bit different in his personal life.

Jude, who became Birmingham City’s youngest first-team player at the age of 16 in August 2019, remarked: “In a football sense, I feel mature because I’ve participated in nearly 400 matches. However, in terms of life experiences, I don’t feel particularly mature at the moment, to be frank.

“I can’t cook, I can’t drive. I excel at my profession, but beyond that? Not so much.

“I depend on my family and friends to assist with various tasks — whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or my Mum doing something else.

“That’s my current situation. I put in hard work every day, but when I’m home, I’ve likely overlooked picking up some of the more fundamental skills. But I’m sure there will be a time for that.”

At 17, Jude made the leap from his boyhood club to Borussia Dortmund.

With little motivation to gain independence, he was living with his mother.

Denise not only serves as her son’s personal manager but also as his driver, and she was present during the Vogue shoot, showcasing their close bond.

During his recovery from shoulder surgery last summer, Jude spent some time in Jamaica with his maternal family.

With his dad Mark being Irish, Jude believes he’s inherited traits from both sides of his heritage.

He reflected, “It’s crucial regarding your make-up.

“There are certain characteristics you might not realize you’ve inherited from your origins, and it’s important to appreciate all of them.”

His parents also influenced his fashion sense.

The broad lapels and orange Louis Vuitton knit featured on the Vogue cover reflect the 1960s and 1970s styles he grew up admiring in actors like Michael Caine and in Bond films.

Denise selected Elvis’s music for the magazine shoot, and Jude shared that his favorite track is “Love Me.” He mentioned, “Elvis had an incredible aura that could fill stadiums.”

It’s a sentiment that resonates with Jude. Following England’s 2-1 quarter-final win against Norway, where he scored twice, Jude waved to fans as they sang “Hey Jude” by The Beatles.

In Madrid, while Jude is recognized, he indicates it’s not the same level of frenzy he experiences back in the UK.

Now seen as a potential long-term replacement for Three Lions captain Harry Kane, Jude always takes the time to engage with young supporters.

He remarked, “If they can snap a picture with you, they’ll be thrilled for ages, and honestly, it’s just five seconds of your time.” Last year, he introduced JB5, a free app named after his initials and Real Madrid shirt number.

The app provides live match updates and snippets of him preparing for El Clasico and his recovery from shoulder surgery.

During his interview, in a moment of self-reflection, the concerned footballer queried Vogue: “Do I come off as self-absorbed? Is it too arrogant?”

Much attention has been placed on Bellingham’s demeanor on the field — particularly during his substitution in England’s World Cup qualifying match against Albania in 2025.

This incident prompted discussions over whether he was a disruptive presence and unfit to participate in the tournament.

Fortunately for Jude, he has received ample counsel from his role models. He disclosed that David Beckham reached out to him during Euro 2024.

With England facing scrutiny over their initial performances and rumors of conflicts in the dressing room, Beckham advised him to tune out the distractions.Arsenal legend Ian Wright also checks in periodically.

Jude admitted that upon seeing Wright’s name on his phone, his initial thought is often about what would be said regarding him. However, when he sees him at a match, Jude greets the pundit warmly.

In addition to Beckham, Jude expressed a desire to have played alongside legends like Zinedine Zidane, Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard.

Jude’s influence within the England squad appeared to evolve as the team exited the World Cup in third place. By the time he departed Miami, he had tallied seven goals, placing him behind only Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe.

The rigors of a jam-packed season weighed heavily on him, leading him to seek help in managing the stress.

Jude remarked, “I didn’t pursue football to become a role model, but when we talk about responsibility, that’s what it signifies to me.”

Outside of football, he is aware of the admiration from youngsters, and he aspires to embody the qualities of a gentleman.

He stated, “I never want anyone to perceive me as flawless.”

Recalling his childhood before achieving sporting success, Jude reminisced about kicking a ball around with his footballer brother Jobe, who is now 21 and has received a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the first time.

Their father was a prolific non-league striker, amassing over 700 goals, though Jude once humorously suggested they were all scored from within the six-yard box.

When Jobe signed with Dortmund in 2025, it was Mark, their father, who made the move to Germany alongside him.

Now both brothers are part of the same England camp, and Jobe — who has been elevated from under-21s captain — has received his first senior call-up for tonight’s match and another against Spain on Sunday.

Manager Tuchel acknowledged Jobe’s selection as “deserved,” commending his stellar start to the season at Borussia Dortmund.

If they both take the field together, they would become just the third pair of brothers to represent the national team in the modern era, joining the ranks of Jack and Bobby Charlton (1965–1970) and Phil and Gary Neville (1996–2007).

Jude expressed that this accomplishment would mean more to him than any trophy he’s ever clinched, admitting he had been persuading Tuchel to keep an eye on his brother.

“Watch him, he’s really good, he can make it,” Tuchel recalled Jude’s enthusiastic pitch — revealing that discussions were already underway with under-21s coach Lee Carsley.

Unexpectedly, Jobe didn’t see this call-up coming, as he presumed he would be remaining with the under-21 squad.

He was driving home from training at Borussia Dortmund when a message appeared on his phone. “Hi, Jobe, it’s Thomas Tuchel.”