Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has won England’s Men’s Player of the Year award for 2024/25, beating Harry Kane and Declan Rice to the honor after an impressive season with club and country.
Jude Bellingham has been crowned England’s Men’s Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, edging out captain Harry Kane and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice in the vote. The Real Madrid star, 22, becomes the 14th different player to claim the award since its inception in 2003.
Supporters voted Bellingham into top spot following a year where he featured eight times for the Three Lions, scoring once and providing three assists. While Kane netted eight goals in 11 England appearances and Rice impressed in a more advanced midfield role, it was Bellingham who ultimately earned the backing of fans.
The midfielder joins an exclusive list of winners that includes Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. He is also only the second player to win the award while playing outside of England, following Owen Hargreaves’ success in 2006 during his time at Bayern Munich.
Bellingham’s rise to global stardom has been rapid. In just two seasons at Real Madrid, he has lifted La Liga and the Champions League, winning La Liga’s Player of the Year award in 2023/24. His overhead kick against Slovakia at Euro 2024 was widely hailed as the standout moment of England’s tournament, even though Cole Palmer ultimately won last year’s award.
The recognition will be especially sweet for Bellingham, who was overlooked in 2023/24 despite his starring role for both club and country. This year’s award confirms his growing importance to England as they build toward the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
England fans will now look ahead to a defining year under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Whether Bellingham, Kane, Rice, or another rising star leads the way, the next Player of the Year could be remembered as the man who inspired the Three Lions to glory on the world stage.
