Jude Bellingham has spoken candidly about his experiences with vulnerability and mental health in a powerful interview to mark World Mental Health Day.
The Real Madrid and England midfielder reflected on his early years at Birmingham City, revealing he once searched his name on social media but has since learned to ignore outside criticism.
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Speaking as a Laureus Ambassador, Bellingham said: “With the development of social media and technology, there’s more ways to attack someone, to make them feel down and I think there’s still a stigma around talking about mental health.”
He admitted there were moments when he “felt vulnerable, doubted myself and needed someone to talk to,” adding that trying to maintain a “macho athlete image” was unrealistic.
“The truth is that I do, everyone does,” he continued. “And you’ll feel a lot better from talking about your feelings and emotions.”
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Bellingham also addressed the unrealistic expectations placed on athletes, saying: “As athletes, it seems like we have the world at our feet… but the reality is, if we can show vulnerability, then it opens up a bigger conversation for people who are struggling in the darkness.”
He said athletes are still expected to “shut up and take it,” calling that view “old-fashioned,” and warned that online hate “can be really tough” for players.
“I’ve never been in a deep hole mentally,” Bellingham added, “but I’ve been around people who have, and it’s sad to see.”
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The midfielder concluded by urging self-acceptance: “I won’t complete every pass or score every game. The more comfortable you are with that, the more comfortable you are with knowing you’re not perfect.”