In the world of football, it’s easy to get swept up by the newest hype or crown the latest wunderkind as the “next big thing.” Jude Bellingham, however, is different. Clearly this isn’t some fleeting, flash-in-the-pan talent, but even the wide recognition of his abilities has overlooked the extent of his quality.
At just 20, Bellingham has already shown maturity and skill that rivals some of the game’s seasoned veterans, making waves at Borussia Dortmund as Bundesliga Player of the Season, and now dazzling for Real Madrid. But even with the growing applause, there’s a sense that the football world has yet to fully grasp the depth of Bellingham’s abilities.
Bellingham’s versatility, football IQ, and leadership—qualities rare even among top players—often get buried beneath the surface-level praise of his goals or assists. It’s as if, somehow, fans and analysts alike don’t fully see how special he is, or worse, take his brilliance for granted because of his age.
In a sea of footballing prodigies, Bellingham stands out in ways that require a closer look. Here, we’ll dive into five reasons why Jude Bellingham remains underrated, challenging fans to appreciate the finer points of his game and recognize the all-rounded, high-IQ midfielder as more than just another rising star.
Positional Versatility
Jude Bellingham’s positional versatility is his secret weapon, a testament to his football IQ and physical adaptability, a rare pairing for any player, let alone one still at the dawn of his career.
It’s not that he can simply play across the midfield; it’s how he transforms his game based on the position he takes up, as if he’s already mastered multiple roles at an elite level.
Watching Bellingham glide from box to box, you realize you’re not just seeing a talented youngster filling gaps but a true tactician in the making, someone with a preternatural understanding of the nuances of each midfield role.
At Borussia Dortmund, he thrived in a more advanced role but also showed he could hold his own defensively. His work rate and pressing game from central midfield were essential to Dortmund’s counter-pressing system.
Bellingham could push forward, scoring or assisting with ease, yet seamlessly drop back, filling defensive gaps and making crucial tackles in transition. Dortmund basically had him doing everything all at once in the middle of the park, fine-tuning his contributions to their needs on a game-by-game basis.
In that sense, he wasn’t just a link in the chain; he was the chain itself, capable of carrying the ball, disrupting the opposition’s shape, and driving forward with intent—all in a single passage of play.
We even saw him start on the left wing and right wing for Dortmund, which he did with aplomb, cutting inside and scoring a few marquee solo goals in the Bundesliga, too.
Now at Real Madrid, his game has expanded to yet another dimension. Here, he operates with a freedom afforded by his teammates’ quality and experience, which brings his offensive strengths to the forefront.
Bellingham’s capacity to slip into the spaces between midfield and attack has transformed Real Madrid’s game, adding a layer of unpredictability to their system.
In this quasi-No.10 role, he’s showcased the qualities of an advanced playmaker, threading incisive passes while timing his runs perfectly, almost telepathically reading when the backline’s concentration dips.
What makes his versatility so striking isn’t just that he can play multiple roles, but that he plays each one with distinct, well-rounded mastery. Bellingham doesn’t simply “slot in”—he adopts the mindset of the role, blending technique with tactical precision.
This fluidity allows managers more tactical options, turning Bellingham into an invaluable asset against a range of opponents. It’s a rare trait that players achieve only after years of honing; Bellingham seems to have it coded into his DNA.
Of course, the rarity of his versatility falls in line with the rarity of his intangible attributes. It is his intensity, winning desire, and leadership that allows him to will himself to success in any role, intelligently picking out the responsibilities of a box-to-box midfielder, a playmaker, a defensive midfielder, a secondary goal-scorer, or even a winger.
In Bellingham, we see not just a rising talent but a player who could very well revolutionize the midfield role itself, erasing the traditional boundaries of positions and redefining what it means to be an all-rounder.
This positional versatility may not grab headlines, but it’s precisely what makes him a generational talent hiding in plain sight.
Paradoxically, it has led him to be overlooked in the 2024/25 season, as Carlo Ancelotti has abused Jude’s gifts by isolating him on the right wing in an auxiliary defensive role, even playing him deeper than right back Lucas Vázquez in El Clásico.
Defensive Contributions
Jude Bellingham’s defensive contributions are often overlooked, masked by the elegance of his dribbling and the effectiveness of his forward play.
But those paying close attention to his performances see a different story unfold—a narrative in which Bellingham’s defensive awareness and tenacity play as big a role as his creativity.
He’s not merely a midfield creator but a tireless workhorse, seamlessly transitioning between offense and defense, bridging the two in a way that sets him apart from even the most seasoned players.
At Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham’s defensive responsibilities were crucial to the team’s pressing philosophy and, more importantly, their overall balance in midfield. Without him in the final games of the season, BVB completely fell apart at the seams.
His high work rate and relentless pressing from sideline-to-sideline often disrupted opponents’ buildups, with Bellingham hovering between the lines, ready to spring into action. His pressing game is driven by more than raw energy; it’s about intelligence.
Bellingham reads the game at a level beyond his years, positioning himself to anticipate passing lanes and stepping in just at the right moment to intercept. He has an uncanny ability to sense the opponent’s next move, often winning the ball back before danger has a chance to materialize.
It’s the kind of positional sense that can’t be taught, a natural instinct that has become the bedrock of his defensive impact. Statistically, he averaged 3.6 combined tackles and interceptions in the Bundesliga and 4.0 in the Champions League by his final season in Dortmund in 2022/23.
Now at Real Madrid, he has adapted his defensive play to match the team’s more controlled approach. With his freedom to roam, he doesn’t sit back but rather takes advantage of pressing triggers, closing down attackers with the support of a cohesive defensive unit.
This allows him to apply pressure higher up the pitch, breaking down plays before they gain momentum. His contributions would be even more appreciated in this vein if Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti were to play a more pressing system so that Jude wouldn’t be isolated in his defensive work up the pitch.
When Madrid are forced to defend deeper, Bellingham transitions into a shielding role, offering support to the defensive line, showing physical strength in one-on-one duels, and ensuring his opponents have no clear paths through the midfield.
Yet, what’s remarkable about Bellingham’s defensive game is how seamlessly it blends with his offensive play. He’s the player who can dispossess an opponent, carry the ball out of his own half, and initiate a counterattack all in one swift movement.
His ability to press, intercept, and tackle are equally matched by his composure under pressure, enabling him to make smart decisions when the ball is at his feet.
That enables him to be a playmaker in the German footballing sense – a threat to win possession up the pitch and then quickly do something productive with that possession.
Bellingham’s defensive contributions go beyond what stats can capture; they’re intrinsic to his game, evidence of a player who understands football holistically.
He scored 19 goals in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, and yet he still averaged more than two combined tackles and interceptions per game in both the Champions League and La Liga.
In a world where defensive work is often sacrificed for creative freedom, Bellingham stands as a model of balance, a two-way midfielder redefining what it means to play in the modern game.
All-Around Ability
Jude Bellingham isn’t just a midfielder; he’s an orchestrator, a tactician, and a warrior rolled into one. In today’s game, where specialization often pigeonholes players into narrow roles, Bellingham stands out as a true all-rounder—a player who doesn’t just do everything but does everything well.
To watch Bellingham play is to witness a complete footballer who brings together technical skill, tactical intelligence, and raw athleticism in a way few players can match. He operates with a refined mastery, fluidly moving between roles on the field, adapting his game to whatever the team needs in the moment.
His technical skill alone is remarkable. Bellingham’s touch is immaculate; his control in tight spaces, enviable. He has the dribbling finesse to evade challenges, yet he’s equally adept at using his body to shield the ball from defenders, turning tight spaces into areas of opportunity.
There’s a reason why he dons the No. 5 and has such a close relationship with the legendary Zinedine Zidane. He models his game after the Frenchman, and Zizou himself is a big fan of Jude, whose roulettes in midfield and overall grace are often reminiscent of the big Galáctico gracefully galloping across midfields around the world in the 90’s and 00’s.
His passing range is another gift—he can play the delicate through ball as easily as he can switch the play with a powerful cross-field pass. Every touch and pass has purpose, creating a rhythm in the game that’s as unpredictable for defenders as it is calming for teammates.
It’s baffling to see how many fans, mostly Barcelona supporters, underrate Jude as a passer or scoff at the notion that he is a playmaker when he’s had multiple seasons with over a key pass per game and five assists, as well as an average of 2.2 key passes per game in club football’s marquee competition last season.
Yet what truly elevates Bellingham is his tactical versatility, as detailed above. He’s not limited by the demands of any one role. Need a deep-lying playmaker? Bellingham can hold position, dictate the tempo, and make incisive passes from deep.
While he doesn’t do that often, he did it for Dortmund repeatedly in his final season, even if those gorgeous assists from deep and his consistency in the position went overlooked due to a severe lack of attention on the Bundesliga from the average football fan.
Need a box-to-box engine? He covers ground with relentless energy, contributing equally to both ends of the pitch. His understanding of when to press, when to hold back, and when to surge forward is astonishingly mature, a mark of his profound footballing IQ.
And if you need someone to attack, he steps up with the instincts of a number 10, scoring, assisting, and creating space as he glides through the final third with purpose.
Defensively, he’s a disruptor—one who reads the game at a level well beyond his years. He presses smartly, intercepts with precision, and doesn’t shy away from physical duels.
Bellingham isn’t just an offensive spark but a defensive wall, someone who can break up play and turn defense into attack with a single well-timed tackle or interception.
In Bellingham, you see the convergence of multiple generations’ skill sets: the power of a classic box-to-box, the creativity of a modern playmaker, and the intelligence of a seasoned anchor.
He is a footballer built for today’s game but with the traits that will make him timeless—a player capable of anything and everything, redefining what it means to be an all-around midfielder.
Overshadowed By Vinícius Júnior (and Kylian Mbappé)
Jude Bellingham’s brilliance shines brightly, yet he has now found himself overshadowed by the attention on Real Madrid attacking starsVinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.
In a world where explosive pace and dazzling dribbling tend to capture the headlines, Bellingham’s more nuanced, all-encompassing style can fade from the spotlight, especially as Carlo Ancelotti exploits his all-around skill-set to support the efforts of the forwards.
Players like Vinícius and Mbappé—out-and-out attackers—naturally draw attention, their goals and show-stopping flair grabbing the public’s eye and making it easy to miss the indispensable work Bellingham does in the trenches.
Bellingham is the player who does it all—winning tackles, pressing, creating chances, and even dictating tempo. But these contributions don’t always translate to viral clips or highlight reels.
While Vinícius dazzles with an electrifying run down the wing and Mbappé captivates with a powerful finish (or a blatant offsides), Bellingham’s quiet brilliance often goes unnoticed, even though his ability to control and influence every phase of play is every bit as valuable.
Vinícius Júnior is the face of Real Madrid, and rightly so—his flair and directness add a thrilling edge to Madrid’s attack. He is the one who stepped up the most in the Champions League knockout stages, but it is remarkable how quickly everyone forgot the 30 or so games throughout the season in which Jude was the unquestioned superstar of Madrid in 2023/24, especially when Vini Jr. went down injured.
But in the background, Bellingham orchestrates the show, driving play forward, recovering balls in dangerous areas, and managing transitions with a smoothness that belies his age of 20.
A lot of us talked about how Vinícius Jr. was snubbed by the Ballon d’Or vote, but Bellingham did have more goal contributions and was more consistent throughout the season, providing defensive contributions close to eventual winner Rodri statistically with a similar number of interceptions per game (despite playing a much more attacking role).
Then there’s the looming presence of Kylian Mbappé, a player whose future was endlessly linked with Madrid. Every transfer window was filled with the “will he, won’t he” speculation around Mbappé, creating an aura that has remained since his arrival in the Spanish capital.
Mbappé has been good to start the season at Real Madrid, contrary to the opportunistic media coverage that says otherwise, but he hasn’t been quite great, with his performance in El Clásico highlighting the stagnation in his development at PSG.
Vinícius Júnior overshadows Jude Bellingham simply because he is so impactful and captivating as a goal-scorer, creator, and dribbler. Mbappé, in theory, would do that for the same reasons, but, really, he’s become a distraction from Jude’s qualities and someone who has made Jude sacrificing his goal-scoring attributes and attacking output in order to accommodate.
High Standards Set Early
Jude Bellingham has become a victim of his own extraordinary success. At just 20 years old, he’s playing with a level of maturity, skill, and intelligence that many players don’t reach in their entire careers.
But therein lies the paradox: by setting such a high standard so early, Bellingham has inadvertently created an expectation that he’ll perform at this elite level every game, as if brilliance were his baseline.
In setting the bar so high, he’s made the remarkable seem routine, which means that even when he’s playing at an exceptional level, it can feel somehow unremarkable.
This phenomenon—of being taken for granted—can be cruelly deceptive. Fans and critics alike can become so used to Bellingham’s consistent quality that they no longer notice the nuances of his game.
Every tackle, every perfectly-weighted pass, and every driving run is seen through the lens of inevitability rather than excellence.
We saw this exemplified so often at Euro 2024 when Bellingham was overlooked – or even criticized – for his repeatedly solid performances, including an excellent shift in midfield as the, I’ll say it again, all-around presence performing world-class work defensively in the Final against Spain.
Yes, England lost, but Bellingham was fantastic with an assist, two key passes, two fouls drawn, and six tackles in a performance that typified his ability to create, progress, and defend at an elite level.
But instead of being praised as one of the best players on the pitch for either England or Spain, Bellingham was a mere footnote or even derided by the same few cynical fans as a “flop” on the big stage when he is quite obviously a big-game player.
What would be a “breakout performance” for others is just another day at the office for Bellingham, who has established himself as the midfield engine and tactical cornerstone at Real Madrid and for England. When he performs well, it’s expected; when he falters even slightly, it’s magnified.
Bellingham’s early success has also raised questions about his ceiling, and this, too, contributes to his being underrated. Because he’s already performing at such a high level, some may feel there’s little room for him to improve or that his growth trajectory is somehow complete.
But this perspective overlooks the subtleties of his evolution as a player. Yes, he may already possess the qualities of an experienced playmaker, but his tactical knowledge, leadership, and understanding of the game are constantly expanding.
Most obviously, Bellingham immediately broke out as a goal-scorer, finishing like a poacher at times with 19 crucial goals as Real Madrid romped their way to the La Liga title in 2023/24.
Each season, Bellingham adds layers to his game, adapting to new challenges, teams, and styles with the ease and finesse of a player twice his age.
This is why Bellingham is underrated: his excellence has become the norm, creating an almost impossible standard to surpass.
In every match, fans expect him to control the midfield, win key duels, drive the attack, and shore up the defense—an exhaustive list of responsibilities. And Bellingham, with his relentless drive and understated brilliance, manages to meet these demands time and again.
But because he’s set this standard so early, it’s easy to forget just how special it is to witness a 20-year-old performing with the poise and authority of a seasoned great. His greatness feels ordinary, but make no mistake—what Bellingham is doing is nothing short of extraordinary.
