INCREDIBLE! Why Jude Bellingham wears number 5 for Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has worn Real Madrid’s number five shirt since joining the club in 2023.

The English all-rounder chose the number which was formerly worn by one of Madrid’s greatest-ever players.

Antonio Rudiger was in possession of the shirt number which Bellingham originally wanted before settling for five.

Jude Bellingham has quickly become an iconic name at Real Madrid. Since moving to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2023, he has been a key cog in the system for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, most notably scoring a stunning winner away to bitter rivals Barcelona.

Kids across the city idolise him, buying his name and shirt number on the back of their jerseys. When Bellingham moved to Real Madrid, he chose to become the club’s number five. Traditionally, the number is used for defensive-minded players, but the Birmingham City prodigy is an exception.

He was unable to wear his beloved number 22, so he struck a compromise. Inspired by one of the greatest Real Madrid players of all time – Zinedine Zidane – we have outlined everything you need to know about the background story surrounding Bellingham’s kit number.

Why Bellingham is Real Madrid’s Number 5
His father used to have a Zidane shirt when he was younger

Bellingham wears the number five shirt to pay homage to Zidane. The legendary Frenchman made 227 appearances for the Galacticos, registering 49 goals and 67 assists. Most notably, he scored one of the greatest Champions League goals of all time in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Zidane also returned to Madrid as manager and won the Champions League three times in a row. A legend in every aspect, it makes sense that Bellingham wanted to honour his legacy in the Spanish capital, even if it was not his first choice. “There wasn’t much else left,” the midfielder said at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony as he explained his decision.

“It adds a little bit of pressure, but I wanted to pay homage to one of my idols.”

However, there is also personal significance to Bellingham wearing the number five shirt. When he was growing up, his father – Mark Bellingham – had a Zidane shirt. “My father always wore a Real Madrid shirt around the house with ‘Zidane’ on the back, which is funny because, in a way, it has come full circle. He gave it to me when I arrived here in the summer,” Bellingham said via Talksport.

“He always wore it and I always told him: ‘Who is this guy you have on your shirt?’ And he always answered: ‘When you’re older, we’ll see him on YouTube.’ Now that I’m wearing number five, it has ended up being a pretty significant story. Really significant to me.”