Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been voted the sexiest footballer in the world in a poll by American magazine People.
The 23-year-old player took the title from Spanish forward Ferran Torres, who previously held the accolade, in a vote staged to coincide with global attention surrounding the football World Cup.
People reported that Bellingham finished first in the vote thanks to an appealing mixture of athletic prowess, charisma and physical presence. The American magazine noted that his popularity extends far beyond his muscular build, describing the midfielder as an influential figure for a younger generation that views personal style as an expression of individual character.
His carefully maintained image, athletic silhouette and natural comfort before the cameras have helped establish a public profile that reaches well outside the boundaries of association football.
People magazine poll
People has published its annual Sexiest Man Alive franchise for four decades, previously awarding the distinction to Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Patrick Dempsey.
The entertainment title, established in the United States in the 1970s, expanded its traditional beauty roster on this occasion to include a dedicated ballot focusing on football players as tournament excitement peaked across the globe.
Torres, who plays as an attacker for Real Madrid's domestic rivals Barcelona and represents the Spain national team, relinquished the title after Bellingham won over the publication's readership.
Bellingham's recognition in the poll reflects his rapid progression into one of international sport's most recognisable figures. Born in Stourbridge, England, he started his senior career with Birmingham City before moving abroad to German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
He completed a major transfer to Real Madrid in 2023, wearing the number 5 shirt previously worn by French football legend Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Since moving to Spain, he has established himself as an essential starter for both his club and the England national team.
The signature bellicut hairstyle
Alongside his sporting accomplishments on the pitch, Bellingham's distinctive grooming choices have attracted significant public fascination. His signature tapered haircut, widely known as the bellicut, has developed into one of his most prominent visual trademarks.
The player relies on a trusted collaborator to maintain the style. British barber and stylist Adam Honeyghan is responsible for perfecting the sharp cut that has become a core element of Bellingham's public appearance.
Honeyghan regularly cuts the hair of elite athletes and international footballers. His regular styling work on Bellingham has helped establish the haircut as a popular style imitated by young supporters across Europe.
The Spanish report noted that treating Bellingham's popularity as merely a matter of athletic physique overlooks what makes him connect with audiences. At 23 years of age, the midfielder has become a reference point for young people who treat presentation and grooming as a direct reflection of self-confidence.
Fashion deals with luxury brands
Bellingham's cultural appeal has generated major opportunities across the global fashion and lifestyle sector. Prominent industry brands including French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton and American apparel brand Skims have partnered with the midfield star for commercial campaigns.
Louis Vuitton, the historic trunk-maker and flagship label of Parisian luxury goods group LVMH, frequently recruits leading sports stars to appear in high-fashion editorial imagery. Skims, the popular underwear and shapewear company co-founded by reality television personality Kim Kardashian, has similarly recruited Bellingham to front its menswear range.
The Spanish report highlighted that these commercial deals have solidified Bellingham's status as a coveted ambassador for multinational corporations. The publication observed that he personifies a modern form of masculinity that blends athletic capability, elegance and natural charm.
His commercial influence mirrors his impact on the pitch, demonstrating how modern sports stars can build international followings across fashion, youth culture and entertainment simultaneously.
Sporting demands at Real Madrid
Bellingham's commercial prominence illustrates the multiple stages upon which elite football stars now operate. While Real Madrid rely on the midfielder for decisive performances in major European competitions, global fashion labels look to the British player to engage varied audiences around the world.
Real Madrid contest the UEFA Champions League on an annual basis, placing intense sporting pressure on Bellingham to deliver trophies in the club's continental campaigns. His broader cultural appeal continues to expand alongside those athletic commitments.
The poll outcome represents a different type of victory for Bellingham. The source noted that the England international did not have to score a decisive goal or hoist a piece of silverware to claim the accolade, winning over readers of People through a commanding public presence that shines away from the stadium.
