Jude Bellingham has not only lit up Santiago Bernabeu after joining Los Blancos, but has also established himself as one of the best players on the planet right now. The 20-year-old has proved to be the most popular baller this season, which has also made his market value boom, portraying him as a one of world’s most marketable athletes.
The hype around Bellingham has triggered comparisons of Jude with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, not only on the field but also with regard to endorsements. The England international has already matched Ronaldo’s statistics based on his start of life at Real Madrid, with 10 goals and 2 assists to his name in La Liga, but where does he stand off the field and in front of the camera?
Jude Bellingham to sign Louis Vuitton endorsement deal
After being a star in the football transfer market, Jude Bellingham has now been gaining a lot of attention in the global fashion market. According to reports, luxury French fashion house Louis Vuitton is keen on signing the England and Real Madrid star as part of a multi-million-dollar endorsement deal and he was also seen in the French brand’s Paris Fashion Week show in the summer.
Bellingham is arguably the hottest talent in the world of football right now and his Kopa trophy for the best youngster of the year in the Ballon d’Or ceremony only substantiates the claim. Surprisingly, Bellingham donned clothes tailored by his potential suitor, Louis Vuitton, while receiving the Kopa trophy.
Louis Vuitton’s interest in football extends beyond Bellingham, as the fashion powerhouse pulled one of the biggest marketing moves by putting Messi and Ronaldo in one photo in last year’s famous chess board photo during the World Cup season. Previously, they also tied up with legends like Pele, Maradona and Zidane.
Will Jude Bellingham surpass Messi, Ronaldo’s endorsement deal?
World football’s shift towards new generation stars like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham has not only been looked at by football fans but has also opened a door for global brands to seek endorsements from as the careers of Messi and Ronaldo reach their sunset.
However, Bellingham, or any other new age athlete for that matter, won’t be able to match Messi and Ronaldo’s endorsement deals as the legendary duo pocketed around a billion dollars from Adidas and Nike respectively. While Messi and Ronaldo have been actively involved in a tug of war when it comes to market value, there is still a long way to go for Bellingham to match their value.
Michael Jordan tops the list of most expensive athlete endorsement deals ever thanks to his Jordan deal with Nike, closely followed by Messi and Ronaldo. David Beckham is another name from football to feature. Bellingham is not there yet, but if his hot run of form continues for the years to come, then he may surpass these legends very soon.
Do you think Bellingham will overtake Messi and Ronaldo in endorsements by the time he retires? Comment your takes on this.
