Jude Bellingham: Spain's Focus in the Euro 2024 Final

Jude Bellingham, England's rising star and Spanish fan favorite, is set to take center stage in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, where he is seen as a key threat to Spanish success.

England's top scorer Harry Kane and dynamic creator Bukayo Saka may command the spotlight, but it is Jude Bellingham who has captured the attention of Spain ahead of Sunday's Euro 2024 final.

Coming off a spectacular season with Real Madrid, Bellingham is a La Liga Player of the Season and a star of equal, if not greater, magnitude in Spain as he is in his homeland.

Jude Bellingham: Spain's Focus in the Euro 2024 Final

His face has adorned Spanish newspaper covers, his performances dissected, and his potential impact on the final seen as pivotal for Spain's success at the Olympic Stadium.

"He is a footballer I like a lot," Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente said. "He has qualities which really appeal to me. He is a strong player who has technical quality and harmony between his strengths."

"He also has agility and elegance. He has these virtues, he scores goals. He is an innate talent who is becoming very important. Aesthetically, he is very enjoyable to watch."

At 17, Bellingham left Birmingham City for Borussia Dortmund, bypassing the English Premier League. He has since made a stunning impact for Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals last season as they secured the La Liga and Champions League double.

Spanish fans have perhaps seen more of Bellingham than their English counterparts, and it is his big-occasion performances that have made him a formidable obstacle for Spain.

"I voted him in second place," de la Fuente said, referring to his vote for Bellingham as one of Europe's best players before he had joined Real Madrid.

Bellingham has showcased glimpses of his brilliance at Euro 2024, notably scoring the opening goal against Serbia and the spectacular bicycle kick against Slovakia. But consistency has been elusive, and the cohesion between him and Phil Foden has not always been evident.

However, he remains an England player built for special challenges, and as the Three Lions seek their first major trophy since 1966, Bellingham's ability to "write his own scripts" could prove pivotal against Spain.

"Who else?" he famously declared after his dramatic strike against Slovakia, a phrase that has reverberated throughout Spanish media.

As England chases history, Bellingham's presence on the pitch will undoubtedly be a source of both excitement and trepidation for both teams. Spain knows that they must quieten the English maestro if they are to reclaim European supremacy, while England clings to the hope that Bellingham can once again inspire a moment of brilliance to carry them to glory.