Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham wasn’t able to win Euro 2024 to further strengthen his Ballon d’Or case, but anyone who actually watched the tournament away from the dreck of social media understands that he only helped his case in the tournament anyway.
Bellingham scored a ridiculous bicycle kick late in the game against Slovkia to bail England out of a horrific early tournament exit, and in the final itself, he was by far the country’s best player despite incessant criticism from your usual crowd of insecure young men.
What makes Bellingham’s excellence with Real Madrid and England these past few months is the fact that he has undeniably been playing through pain, injured and fighting at less than 100 percent.
According to The Athletic’s Nick Miller, Jude Bellingham has still been suffering from the effects of a dislocated shoulder he suffered all the way back in November, forced to play with a special strap on that shoulder so that he can play.
Furthermore, Miller reports that Bellingham may need surgery at some point in the future in order to definitively resolve the issue so that he can play fully freely again.
What Bellingham is doing is reminiscent of a recent Real Madrid legend, striker Karim Benzema, who spent years playing with a dislocated finger before finally getting it fixed.
Playing with a dislocated shoulder is much more difficult, though, especially with how many whole-body movements and strength an all-around midfield monster like Bellingham must show.
It’s time for Bellingham to ease the pain, get the surgery if he needs to, and not delay it. Missed action at the beginning of the season is much easier for Real Madrid to swallow than missing one of the world’s best big-game players in the Champions League knockouts.
And with Arda Guler ready for a bigger role after his own excellent Euro 2024 for Turkey, Real Madrid can feel all the more safer in letting Bellingham take the time off he needs.
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