Jude Bellingham, one of England’s brightest stars, has revealed he felt “mistreated” and “lost his smile” after the Three Lions’ heartbreaking Euro 2024 final loss to Spain.

Despite his heroic performances throughout the tournament, Bellingham says he was unfairly blamed for the team’s shortcomings.

The 21-year-old midfielder entered the tournament riding a wave of success, fresh from a dream debut season with Real Madrid.He had claimed both La Liga and Champions League titles and finished as the club’s second-highest scorer with 23 goals. Expectations for him were sky-high, and initially, he delivered.

Bellingham scored the winning goal in England’s opener against Serbia and saved the team with a last-minute back volley equalizer against Slovakia to keep them alive in the tournament.

Even in the final, he provided a crucial assist for Cole Palmer’s goal. Yet, after England’s defeat to Spain, Bellingham says he became the focus of criticism.

Jude Bellingham: I lost my smile

Reflecting on his experience, Bellingham told reporters, “I lost my smile a lot playing for England after the Euros. I felt I was a little mistreated compared to what I contributed.”

He added, “It felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me, especially in the three days after the final. It wasn’t a nice feeling.”

Despite his contributions, Bellingham believes he was unfairly labeled the “scapegoat” for England’s struggles, a burden that took a toll on his happiness.