Jude Bellingham has opened up about his own experiences with mental health, admitting he once searched for his name online during his Birmingham days and often tried to maintain a “macho image.” Marking World Mental Health Day, the Real Madrid midfielder urged fans to “talk about feelings” and challenged football’s “old-fashioned outlook” that athletes should “shut up and take it.”
Bellingham gets real on mental health stigma
Jude Bellingham has sent an important message to football fans and fellow athletes, speaking candidly about the emotional toll of professional sport and the dangers of social media abuse.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who has quickly become one of the world’s top players, revealed that during his early career at Birmingham City, he would regularly search for his own name on social media — a habit that left him feeling “vulnerable” and overly affected by public criticism.
With the development of social media, there are more ways to attack someone, Bellingham told ESPN. I know there’s been times where I’ve felt vulnerable, doubted myself, and needed someone to talk to. Instead, I tried to keep up this macho athlete image of ‘I don’t need anyone.’ The truth is that I do — everyone does.
The 22-year-old, now a Champions League and La Liga winner, used World Mental Health Day to urge a shift in football culture — away from silence and stigma, and toward open conversation and empathy.
“Athletes are seen as people who should shut up and take it”
Bellingham also called out the unrealistic expectations placed on modern footballers, arguing that wealth and fame often mask the human struggles behind the game.
As athletes, it seems like we have the world at our feet. But the reality is, if we can show vulnerability, it opens up a bigger conversation for people struggling in the darkness, he said. I still think athletes are seen as people who should shut up and take it — which is an old-fashioned outlook. That hate can be really tough.
The England international explained that while he hasn’t personally experienced a major mental health crisis, he’s seen the devastating impact it can have on others. His remarks underline how social media hostility and fan abuse can create a toxic atmosphere even for elite players.
Everyone is allowed their opinion on sport, but there should be limits to the horrible things you can say, he added.
A message of self-acceptance and resilience
Bellingham also spoke about self-confidence and learning to accept imperfection — both on and off the pitch.
I always try to keep my confidence high, whether it’s through self-reassurance or accepting the fact that I won’t complete every pass, or score in every game, he said. The more comfortable you are with that, the more comfortable you are knowing you’re not perfect.
Currently recovering full fitness after shoulder surgery, Bellingham has made a gradual return under new Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, missing out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the October internationals. The break has allowed him to focus on his physical and mental wellbeing as Madrid continue their strong start to the La Liga campaign.
A role model for a new football generation
Bellingham’s message resonates beyond football — it’s about changing perceptions. By speaking openly about mental health, he’s helping to dismantle the old narrative that toughness means silence.
At just 22, the Real Madrid star is already proving that emotional honesty is not weakness, but strength — and that even at the top of the game, vulnerability can inspire millions.
