LONDON – Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham has called on elite athletes to speak openly about their mental health struggles and reduce their exposure to harmful commentary on social media.
Speaking as a Laureus Ambassador on World Mental Health Day, Bellingham emphasized the importance of vulnerability in professional sport, saying more athletes need to acknowledge the toll of constant scrutiny.
The 22-year-old star, who was left out of the England squad this week, admitted the decision sparked a wave of online criticism, a familiar experience for top-level players.
“There was a time I’d check my phone to read everything people were saying about me,” Bellingham said. “Now, I try to stay away from it as much as possible.”
Bellingham’s comments come amid growing concern over the mental well-being of professional athletes, especially younger players navigating fame and relentless public judgment.
He added that while performance pressure is part of the job, the mental strain is often overlooked: “We are expected to be strong all the time, but real strength comes from being honest about when you’re struggling.”
The midfielder urged sports bodies and teams to build better mental health support systems and encouraged fans to remember that players are “human beings first.”
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