Jude Bellingham (foto: Screenshot)
Jude Bellingham was seen in tears after England's defeat to Argentina, as emotions ran high both on and off the pitch following the World Cup semi-final.
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Jude Bellingham struggled to hide his emotions after England's dramatic 2:1 defeat to Argentina, with the Real Madrid midfielder finding comfort in his family after the final whistle in Atlanta.
England looked destined for the World Cup final after Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead, only for late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez to complete a stunning comeback for the defending champions.
Long after the match had ended, television cameras showed Bellingham embracing his father, Mark Bellingham, and mother, Denise Bellingham, while wiping away tears.
His England teammate Morgan Rogers was also seen consoling the Bellingham family before the midfielder later sat with his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, still visibly devastated by the result.
The emotional scenes came shortly after Bellingham had been involved in a heated confrontation with Argentina substitute Valentín Barco. The England midfielder appeared to slap Barco on the back of the head, prompting players from both teams to intervene before the situation escalated.
Reports suggest the incident may have been triggered by Barco celebrating Enzo Fernandez's equaliser directly in front of England's players instead of joining his teammates.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, described Barco's actions as "probably the worst example of sportsmanship we've seen at this World Cup."
Bellingham later dismissed suggestions that an earlier exchange with Lionel Messi had been anything more than a discussion about a refereeing decision.
"We were really just discussing a foul. It wasn't anything bad. I'm sure people will make a big story out of it, but nothing really happened," he explained.
Reflecting on England's elimination, the 23-year-old admitted the disappointment was overwhelming.
"We can learn a lot from this experience, but it's heartbreaking. I wanted to be part of the England team that finally got over the line. I'm sorry that we're telling the fans the same story they've heard for years. Right now, my head is full of disappointment."
Meanwhile, Argentina's celebrations also sparked controversy after several players posed with a banner reading "The Malvinas (Falklands) are ours." The politically charged message has prompted calls for FIFA to investigate whether the display breached regulations prohibiting political statements at official competitions.
FIFA has not announced whether disciplinary proceedings will be opened, although the Argentine Football Association was previously fined over a similar banner displayed before an international match in 2014.