Participants in a Jude Bellingham lookalike contest gathered in Shoreditch, east London, on Wednesday, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of the competitive spirit found in the ongoing US matches.
This event provided a whimsical glimpse into what it might be like to clone England’s dynamic midfielder, who has impressively scored six goals in just as many games during the tournament. For fans dreaming of an extra Bellingham in the squad, this occasion was an entertaining distraction.
As England prepared to face Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta, the contest became a vibrant spectacle filled with influencers wielding cameras and a chance for fans to pass the time before heading to local pubs for the evening.
The winner of the contest received a Deliveroo voucher valued at £1,966, a playful nod to the long wait since England last lifted the World Cup trophy six decades ago.
Could this year result in a different outcome? Enthusiasm was palpable among the participants. “Yeah of course. Come on England. It’s coming home,” declared Zane Proctor, a 19-year-old university student from Manchester who learned about the event through Instagram. “I was in the local area and thought, why not?”
Though he acknowledged he may not have resembled Bellingham the most, Proctor was eager to join in. “I feel like he’s a really good idol,” he stated, noting the media scrutiny Bellingham faces. “He is criticised a lot by the media, and I feel like his response to the media is very inspirational for young and upcoming players. So beyond the football, beyond all the goals, I feel he is a really good ambassador for all the young people who look like me, and not even that look like me, to all the young kids that watch on TV. I feel like he is a really good person to look to.”
Gabriel Mian, a 20-year-old from Orlando, stumbled upon the contest quite by chance. “I had to come to the station anyway, and some people told me I had to go [to the competition],” he explained, having recently settled in Brick Lane. “So I just walked up and now l am here, I guess.”
Interestingly, Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe, who is also making strides in football, was not present at the event. Instead, Marcus Legemah, a 24-year-old master’s student at University College London, was crowned the lookalike champion, much to the audience’s delight.
Legemah often hears that he resembles Bellingham. “Yeah, but it’s normally just drunk people in the pub,” he remarked. “More since Jude has been playing well. So this tournament, it’s happened.”
He received his prize from a lookalike of Erling Haaland, who was humorously met with shouts of “our very own Erling Haaland lookalike” reflecting the friendship between the two players.
When asked about the traits he shares with Bellingham, Legemah chuckled, saying, “Sadly, apart from looks I don’t think there’s much,” Winning, however, “I’m so excited. Now I can can celebrate the final with some friends, with pizzas and beer.” he expressed. “I think we are going to win. You have to have the confidence. I think it’s coming home.”
Regarding England’s chances in the World Cup, he exuded confidence. “I think we are going to win. You have to have the confidence. I think it’s coming home.”
