Jude Bellingham declines Player of the Match award after draw with Ghana

England’s Jude Bellingham turned down the Player of the Match award following his team’s 0-0 draw with Ghana on June 23 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder said the recognition, decided by an online fan vote, should have gone to one of the Ghanaian players who stifled England’s attack throughout the group-stage contest.

“Yeah, I didn’t deserve it, to be honest. It probably should have gone to one of their lads that defended so well.”

Bellingham was substituted in the 73rd minute, having struggled to impose himself on a match that Ghana’s disciplined backline controlled for long stretches.

Ghana’s defensive masterclass

Bellingham acknowledged that Ghana “played for the draw” and that it was the smart move given their tournament position. The Ghanaian defense limited England to minimal clear-cut chances across 90 minutes.

The match came after England’s opening fixture against Croatia, and fits a pattern that fans and pundits have started calling “second game fever” — the Three Lions have developed a habit of stumbling in their second group-stage match at major tournaments.

What the sportsmanship says about Bellingham

He didn’t offer a generic “the whole team deserved it” deflection. He pointed directly at Ghana’s defenders and said they were better. The Player of the Match selection was determined by online fan voting, which tends to favor the biggest names regardless of actual performance.

Bellingham has risen through his career since breaking through at Borussia Dortmund as a teenager before moving to Real Madrid.

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