It was a night that belonged to Harry Kane — and Jude Bellingham made sure to let his England teammate know exactly how he felt about it. Fresh off one of the biggest individual nights in world football, the Bayern Munich striker was on the receiving end of a warm social media shoutout from his Real Madrid club colleague and fellow Englishman.
What Happened
Kane was crowned the world’s best footballer at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, beating out two of La Liga’s finest — Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s own Kylian Mbappé — to claim the prestigious award. The 33-year-old made the trip back to England for the ceremony, and the recognition came on the back of a stunning 73-goal haul across club and international football during the past season — a number that made the voting look like a foregone conclusion.
As congratulations poured in from across the football world, it was Bellingham who caught the eye of Madridistas everywhere. The Real Madrid midfielder headed to his official Instagram account and posted a two-word message that said everything: ‘Congratulations, Skip!’ Simple, heartfelt, and very on-brand for a player who has never hidden his deep respect for Kane on the international stage.
The pair have long enjoyed a close relationship through the England national team setup, and that bond clearly extends well beyond matchdays. For Bellingham, giving a public nod to his compatriot — even as Kane’s win came at the direct expense of his own club teammate Mbappé — spoke volumes about the character of the young midfielder.
What It Means for Real Madrid
There’s an obvious bittersweet angle here for the Bernabéu faithful. Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 in one of the most anticipated transfers in football history, was in the running for the Ballon d’Or but ultimately missed out to Kane. For a player of Mbappé’s ambition and stature, that will sting — and it’s fair to say Real Madrid supporters are eager to see the Frenchman hit the heights that will make him the undisputed frontrunner in future years.
Bellingham, meanwhile, continues to be one of the most popular figures in the Bernabéu dressing room and among the fanbase. His social media interaction here is a small moment, but it’s a reminder of the kind of personality and emotional intelligence he brings to everything he does — qualities that made him an instant fan favourite from the moment he arrived in Madrid. After his extraordinary debut season in Spain, expectations remain sky-high for the Englishman, and moments like this only add to his standing.
It’s also worth noting the broader context: Real Madrid had two players — Mbappé and presumably others from their star-studded squad — in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, which underlines just how potent Carlo Ancelotti’s side remains at the elite level. Even when the award goes elsewhere, Los Blancos are always central to the debate.
What’s Next
For Kane, the Ballon d’Or win is a validation of a remarkable career that has seen him become one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. For Real Madrid and their supporters, the focus quickly returns to their own campaign — and the hope that Mbappé, Bellingham, and company can put together the kind of performances that make the Ballon d’Or conversation even harder to settle next year.
In the meantime, tip your hat to Harry Kane — even Bellingham did. And if Jude says ‘Skip’ deserves it, who are we to argue?
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