Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has been named LaLiga Player of the Season after playing a pivotal role in leading the club to its 36th league title.
Bellingham, 20, beat his teammate Vinícius Júnior, Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), Artem Dovbyk (Girona) and Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) in votes cast by fans, club captains and a panel of experts.
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He scored 19 goals and provided six assists in 28 league games this season, and scored 23 goals and 12 assists in all the club's competitions.
Bellingham, who was unable to attend Tuesday's ceremony in Sardinia as he prepared for the Champions League final at Wembley against his former club Borussia Dortmund, said he was honored to have received the award.
▶️ Press play and enjoy the #LALIGAEASPORTS Highlights!! 🤩
✨ @BellinghamJude ✨@EASPORTSFC | @Globo_Soccer#LALIGAPLAYEROTHIS SEASON#LALIGAAWARDS#PREMIOSLALIGAA pic.twitter.com/JPP6rxOpeX
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“I would like to dedicate it to my teammates, the coaching staff and, most importantly, the fans of the best club in the world,” he said in a message. “It is a pleasure every time I play for this team. Hala Madrid!”
The England international also won the 2022-23 Bundesliga Player of the Season award playing for Dortmund before moving to Real for a fee of around €103 million ($111.71 million).
Earlier on Tuesday, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl praised Bellingham.
“I know how strong Jude is and I know his personality a lot, so he is an incredible player, an incredible character and of course he will do everything to win that final,” he said.
