Jude Bellingham wins 2025-26 England men's player of the year

Jude Bellingham has been named the 2025-26 England men’s senior player of the year connected by EE, winning the award for the second season in a row.

The midfielder was voted by the fans on the official England app as the standout Three Lions player over the last season. 

“It feels great,” said Bellingham.

“Obviously, a huge honour to be recognised by the fans again. It’s not something you think about when you play for your country, but it's obviously a beautiful little addition to the great summer we had.”

The England and Real Madrid star amassed seven goals and one assist for his country across 12 matches, and made a record-breaking impact at the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

All seven goals came at the World Cup, a major tournament record tally for any England men’s player, as he played a starring role in the Three Lions’ best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966.

Reflecting on his impact this summer, England head coach Thomas Tuchel said: “I think he was one of the players of the tournament, not only for us but for the whole tournament. He lived up to his full potential; you could just see what a competitor and what a machine he is.

“He just thrives under pressure, he just loves these moments, he loves these stages and it brings out the very best in him.”

Back-to-back ✨@BellinghamJude is once again your England Men's Player of the Year connected by @EE! 🏆

— England (@England) September 25, 2026

Bellingham’s seven-goal haul at the World Cup included doubles in the iconic 3-2 Round of 16 victory over host nation Mexico at the Azteca, and another brace in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway.

Bellingham says the Mexico win was his moment of 2025-26, without question.

“Just a huge occasion,” he says. “There was a lot of talk before the game about the altitude and kind of going into their domain, really, where they've been so strong for so many years and at the World Cup. And to come out on top of that and face adversity and also have a good impact on the match was just unbelievable.”

Before that, he became the youngest European player to feature at four major tournaments when he started and scored in the 4-2 opening triumph over Croatia at the age of 22 years and 353 days.

Six days later, he followed that up by becoming the youngest Three Lions player to reach 50 caps, against Ghana in the second group stage match.

Bellingham shared some memorable moments with the England fans in the United States and Mexico in the summer, signing Wonderwall with the fans and the squad after each victory. 

And when asked what the fans mean to him, he says: “The passion, passion. They always come in numbers. They always sing louder than every team we play against. Yeah, that makes a big difference for us on a pitch.”

England Men’s Player of the Year winners

2003 – David Beckham (Manchester United)
2004 – Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
2005 – Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
2006 – Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)
2007 – Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
2008 – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2009 – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2010 – Ashley Cole (Chelsea)
2011 – Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur)
2012 – Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
2014 – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2015 – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2016 – Adam Lallana (Liverpool)
2017 – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
2018 – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
2019 – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
2020-21 – Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)
2021-22 – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
2022-23 – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
2023-24 – Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
2024-25 – Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
2025-26 - Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)