LIVERPOOL, England — Jude Bellingham, the midfielder for Real Madrid, expressed that he felt unfairly targeted after England’s unsuccessful campaign in this year’s European Championship. Bellingham, who dazzled fans with a remarkable stoppage-time overhead kick against Slovakia during the round of 16, mentioned that his performances received undue criticism.

In an emotional reflection, Bellingham shared, “To be honest, I lost my joy after the Euros when it came to playing for England because I felt slightly mistreated in light of what I contributed.” He continued, “Some of the feedback I received felt excessively harsh, and I found myself in a position akin to being a scapegoat. Perhaps I was indulging in self-pity.”

Before the Euro championship, Bellingham had enjoyed a stellar season with Real Madrid, clinching the Spanish league title and the Champions League. His outstanding performance earned him the accolade of player of the season in Spain’s premier football division.

During the Euro tournament, he managed to score two goals, but England ultimately finished in second place after succumbing to Spain in the finals. Bellingham recounted, “I believed I contributed significantly during the tournament, yet following the Euros, it felt as if everything was crashing down on me, especially in the three days following the final. It was quite an unpleasant experience.”

Recent successes have rejuvenated Bellingham’s spirit, as he helped the England national team earn promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. Earlier this month, he posted on Instagram expressing that he had “got his smile back.”

This week, Bellingham has returned to England as his club, Real Madrid, prepares to take on Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.