Golden Boy Bellingham hails Rooney as his "biggest influence" during award acceptance

Fresh off being crowned the best young footballer in Europe, Jude Bellingham paid his respects to Wayne Rooney, calling him his "biggest influence" growing up. The Real Madrid star, named Golden Boy award winner in September, formally received his prize at a ceremony in Turin.

Joining an illustrious list of past winners like Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and fellow Englishmen Raheem Sterling and Rooney himself, Bellingham acknowledged his role models upon receiving both the Golden Boy and Absolute Best awards.

"It's all about making my team and country the best in the world," Bellingham declared. "To be the best player, you have to help your teams win. Joining this list is a huge honor."

He then singled out Rooney as his guiding light: "Growing up, Rooney was probably my biggest influence. Being English, the way he played, the way he fought... there are so many other players I've learned from, but he stands out."

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Bellingham, named Bundesliga Player of the Season before his summer move to Real, was instrumental in Dortmund's near-legendary title run and England's 2022 World Cup quarter-final finish. Now in Spain, he's continued his meteoric rise, scoring a staggering 15 goals in 17 games across all competitions.

With his Golden Boy award in hand and Rooney's spirit in his heart, Bellingham seems destined for even greater things.