Bellingham: It's Devastating to Tell Fans the Same Things They've Heard for Years; It Was a Privilege to Play Against Messi

Jude Bellingham was understandably devastated after England's dramatic 2-1 loss to Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semi-final. The Real Madrid star did not address the incident where he appeared to slap Argentina substitute Valentin Barco when he spoke to reporters after the match.

"It's devastating. I wanted to be part of an England team that finally succeeded, that finally crossed the finish line. To stand here and tell the fans the same things they've probably been hearing for years is truly heartbreaking. I'm sorry," Bellingham stated.

The attacking midfielder added that he had no issues with Lionel Messi, despite some heated exchanges during the game. "The conversation with Messi? We were actually discussing a foul. There was nothing malicious. I'm sure everyone will make their own assumptions and blow it out of proportion, but it was really nothing. I thought there was a foul earlier, and he said, 'Well, what about that one against me?' And I replied, 'You're strong enough to take it,' you know what I mean."

"Obviously, I'm on the losing side, which hurts a lot, but it's a privilege to face one of the best. There were NO problems with Messi. We were talking about a slight tackle, there was really nothing bad."

"We'll be back. I'll be back," Bellingham concluded.