Jude Bellingham has taken over from Harry Kane as England’s most recognisable football superstar, according to fans across the world.
We went to the real home of the stars – Beverly Hills in California – to find out how many members of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad rival supporters could identify.
Global icons of stage and screen such as Adele, Taylor Swift, Jack Nicholson, Jennifer Lawrence and Lione Richie have mansions in the swanky city down the road from Hollywood. It is so posh the only hint of the World Cup fever that is gripping the rest of the US is a single giant football near the Welcome To Beverly Hills sign.
An endless stream of visitors queued up round-the-clock to be pictured alongside it. And we invited them to join in the Daily Star’s Who’s That Player quiz.
We showed them photos of five Three Lions – Bellingham, Kane, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford and Nico O’Reilly – and asked if they could identify them.
Every single fan of nations from the US and Mexico to Czechia and Bosnia picked out Bellingham. Asked why she knew him one American girl cooed: “Because he’s beautiful.”
Another US sports fan said the Real Madrid midfielder was ‘the only one I recognise’. “That’s the only one I know,” he said. “I’ve heard of him. I’ve heard he’s a great player.”
Nearly everyone identified Captain Kane – though some needed a nudge that he had scored two goals in the 4-2 opening match victory against Croatia.
The Czechs and the Bosnians identified everyone except England newcomer O’Reilly. “Oh he must be new. I don’t know his face,” said one.
Another fan said: “I don’t think he’s even a footballer. I think you’re trying to trick me.” The only one of 30 fans to recognise O’Reilly was a female American student. “I know him. He is from Man City. Nico O’Reilly,” she said with confidence.
But it was Bellingham whose face rang a bell with most. We told earlier this week how he could net £10m if he guides England to World Cup glory, according to a finance chief.
The 22-year-old’s stock has soared following his goal against Croatia. Football finance expert Professor Rob Wilson believes the tournament could see Bellingham’s global standing and commercial value rocket.
Speaking to financial support platform Vettory, Rob believes Jude will be England’s standout star at the World Cup thanks to his status and visibility. He said the Real Madrid star was already one of football’s top earners but has the potential to increase his earnings by up to £10million with a successful campaign.
Professor Wilson, head of Executive Education at the University Campus of Football Business, said: “From a commercial point of view the standout England player is likely to be Jude Bellingham again.
“We have a rare mix with him of elite performance with Real Madrid’s visibility paired with England hero potential because based on the squad he is probably the most important player.
“He is relatively young, with fashion, style and credibility as well as a personality that really works with the brand globally. Bellingham is already one of football’s top earners.
“I think he earns around an estimated £40m from Real Madrid and other ventures and then around £15m off the pitch. If he has a defining World Cup – that might mean top scorer from midfield or the face of the later stages for England – then that £15m would likely soar to £25m.
“The reason he is so valuable is that he can sell across multiple platforms. You have the classic football merchandise opportunities like boots and clothing, but then he also crosses over to luxury fashion, gaming, watches, and health products.
“Bellingham has the potential to be the face of those brands. But he has to be a key player and England have to have a successful World Cup to see that step change.”
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