He can boss a Champions League midfield, but put Jude Bellingham in front of a stove or behind a steering wheel and the story changes. The Real Madrid star has confessed that two very ordinary life skills, cooking and driving, are still beyond him, according to his cover interview with British Vogue.
The 23-year-old England international made the admission in the magazine’s December 2026 edition, which, Creebhills reported, is the first time he has appeared on the Vogue cover. Riann Phillip conducted the interview, while Alasdair McLellan took the photographs.
Speaking about life away from the pitch, Bellingham was blunt about his limits: “I can’t cook, I can’t drive… I’m good at what I do, but everything else? Not that great.”
The funny part? The accompanying photoshoot shows the midfielder seated behind the wheel of a vintage BMW, a car he reportedly would not know how to drive. Na style him dey do, not driving.
Pressure, stress and asking for help
Beyond the laughs, the conversation showed a more open and vulnerable Bellingham. The former Borussia Dortmund player admitted that the weight of playing at the very top level became hard to handle during the previous season.
“It was definitely consuming me, and it was making me really tense and stressed,” he told the magazine.
According to the report, he eventually reached out for support to cope. He pointed to the constant cycle of training, competitive matches, recovery and public expectation that elite footballers have to juggle week after week.
The interview follows another heavy stretch in his career, which included England’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Creebhills reported the Three Lions finished third.
Not trying to look perfect
Bellingham also spoke about the attention on his personality and public image, saying he wants fans to know who he is beyond what they watch on matchday. On the subject of young supporters who look up to him, he said being a role model should not mean pretending to have no flaws.
“I don’t ever want people to think that I’m perfect,” he said.
From Birmingham to the Bernabeu
Born in Stourbridge, England, Bellingham started out professionally at Birmingham City before joining Borussia Dortmund in Germany in 2020. His displays in the Bundesliga turned him into one of the most talked-about young midfielders in Europe and earned him a big-money move to Real Madrid in 2023.
He settled quickly in Spain, playing a key role as Madrid won major trophies including the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. Away from football, he has been building a growing profile in fashion, and the Vogue cover puts both sides of his life on display: elite athlete and style figure.
