What is Jude Bellingham’s celebration? Meaning of England & Real Madrid star’s goal gesture explained

Bellingham first performed the celebration as a teenager in 2019 when playing for Birmingham City in the English Championship. In fact, it was his full league debut for the club against Charlton Athletic and the goal was decisive as Birmingham won 1-0.

Since then, Bellingham has performed the same celebration at Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and in games for England.

According to Bellingham himself, his goal celebration has no particular meaning or significance.

“The truth is that I don’t know exactly where it comes from,” he told RMTV when asked about what it meant. “I started doing it in Birmingham and from there I have continued it but there is no reason.”

Outstretched arms in this context tend to signify an expression of self-satisfaction, with the performers making themselves bigger and fully visible as if to say, “Here I am! Look at me in all my glory.”

While Bellingham has not referenced Ridley Scott’s 2000 film ‘Gladiator‘, there are certainly shades of a scene in the movie when Russell Crowe’s Maximus defiantly asks a baying crowd “Are you not entertained?”

Indeed, when the midfielder shouted “Who else?!” to the England fans when celebrating the fact he scored a last-minute equaliser for the Three Lions against Slovakia at Euro 2024, those similarities were even more pronounced.

As noted earlier, Bellingham has performed a number of different celebrations during his career and one in particular occurred at Euro 2024.

After scoring against Serbia, Bellingham, along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, knelt on one knee while putting their right hand up to their faces.

According to Bellingham, it was a reference to a cardgame called Werewolf and a nod to the importance of the backroom staff.

“When we play Wolf, one of the staff loves that face when he doesn’t have a clue what is going on so that was a little group celebration for the Wolf crew,” he explained.

“It was more of a celebration for the backroom staff who put in so much work every day, and they won’t receive any awards like this or have the moments we get to have on the pitch.”

A gesture made by Bellingham during celebrations of England’s win over Slovakia at Euro 2024 was deemed ‘lewd by some observers and prompted UEFA to open an investigation.

However, Bellingham protested that it was an “inside joke” directed at some of his friends who were at the game.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Bellingham wrote: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”