Jude Bellingham didn’t want the award. He made that clear the moment it was handed to him.
After England and Ghana played to a 0-0 draw in their second group stage match at the 2026 World Cup, the Real Madrid star was named the game’s best player. His reaction? He basically said thanks but no thanks.
“Yeah, I didn’t deserve it, to be honest. It probably should have gone to one of their lads that defended so well,” Bellingham told reporters afterward. “I had a couple of moments. It was hard to get in the game, and I’m grateful to everyone who voted, but it probably should have gone to one of their lads that defended so well. So, fair play to them … I think they played for the draw, as it would have seen them go through, and fair play to them. They did a great job.”
It’s not every day you hear a star player openly question a Man of the Match decision. But Bellingham wasn’t wrong. Ghana’s backline was organized, physical, and relentless. They came into the match knowing a point would likely be enough to advance, and they executed exactly that game plan.
England, meanwhile, looked flat. It’s a familiar script for the Three Lions: win the opener, stumble in the second match. Bellingham acknowledged it himself with a grin.
“Like always, second game fever, isn’t it?” he said. “With England, win the first one, then draw the second one, but it’s okay.”
A heated moment at halftime
The post-match graciousness was a bit of a contrast to what happened just before halftime. As Bellingham walked off the pitch, he got into a brief scuffle with Ghana’s bench. Nothing major, but the tension was there.
It’s the kind of edge you want from your best player. But it also showed how frustrated England was getting against a Ghana side that refused to break.
Where England stands now
Despite the draw, England still leads Group L. They’ve got four points. Ghana has two. The group’s bottom team, which has yet to pick up a point, is up next for England. A win in that match should seal first place and a spot in the knockout round.
So yeah, they’ll probably be fine. But the performance raised questions about whether this England team can handle a game that requires patience and creativity against a team that’s happy to sit deep.
Bellingham was honest about it. He gave credit where credit was due. And then he walked off with an award he didn’t think he deserved.
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