‘Bigger than Beckham’: Why Bellingham will be England’s next football billionaire

“Beckham was adept at merging fashion and sport, but I think Bellingham is bigger than Beckham,” says Mark Borkowski. “He is a generational talent – not just in sport, but in comms. Sometimes I have to blink and shake my head when I remember how young he is. It wasn’t that long ago that England was blighted with a different sort of personality – the Gazzas, Fowlers and Rooneys and their drinking culture. Think of that infamous moment when Robbie Fowler pretended to be snorting a line of cocaine when he scored a goal on the 18-yard line, after there had been tabloid speculation about him. Bellingham is emblematic of how much football has changed.”

While Bellingham is a natural wit in front of the camera (“have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow,” he said in a post-match interview after England’s historic 3-2 win over Mexico, having scored two of the goals), it’s his compassion that has really endeared him to fans. After being roundly ignored by other England players after their win over DR Congo, Venezuelan journalist Manu Gutierrez, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, looked in despair about the likelihood of ever getting an interview. Then, Bellingham stopped to talk to him, leaning down to his level and speaking in fluent Spanish.

Captured on video, the clip instantly went viral. “It was a remarkable bit of footage that shows the depth of Bellingham’s understanding of what it is to take on the mantle of that talent,” notes Borkowski. “It’s how you conduct yourself off the field that increasingly matters, and he is a beacon for the way that modern sports people need to behave.”

While his club can take some credit for his behaviour, most of the credit must go to his parents, Mark and Denise, who are believed to have separated last year after 20 years of marriage. “Before being great parents, they’re great people,” he has said. “When you have people like that, you don’t have to be told how to behave, you pick that up from them.” He’s particularly close to his mum, who moved to Germany with him in 2020 when he played for Borussia Dortmund, and then to Spain, when he was sold to Real Madrid in 2023. His parents also helped shape his clean living lifestyle. Like all the most compelling players in 2026, Bellingham looks after himself, assiduously investing in his health and wellness in a way that bodes well for his longevity.

Which is why, whatever happens next, he has a long career ahead. In a recent interview with James Corden, he revealed an ambition to act: “I’d love to be James Bond,” he said. Davis believes that his most interesting deals are still to come. “Twenty years ago, athletes were chosen because they represented performance and winning. Today, brands are just as interested in character, curiosity and the person behind the sport. That’s why someone like Lewis Hamilton makes sense [as a brand ambassador] for Lululemon. Bellingham has the same opportunity to move beyond traditional sports endorsements into luxury, travel, technology or finance.”

Borkowski agrees. “Strategically, he should pursue the very high end. He’s a fashion icon, so I’d be looking at the sort of deals that tennis players and golfers do. He’s very serious minded, but with a clever tabloid underbelly. The next 18 months are going to be crucial to forge his next stage. As well as going for high-end global brands, he should think about what his charitable exploits are going to be. What is he going to get behind? Is he going to create a foundation?”

‘Bigger than Beckham’: Why Bellingham will be England’s next football billionaire