In a lively scene in Shoreditch, east London, a group of young men gathered for a lookalike competition that honored Jude Bellingham, the England football star. The atmosphere was buoyant as they joined in singing, “Yeah of course. Come on England. It’s coming home,” as they prepared to showcase their resemblance to the talented midfielder.
This contest provided a whimsical glimpse for fans who dream of having a clone of their hero, especially with Bellingham’s impressive performance, having netted six goals in as many games. The event coincided with the anticipation of England’s upcoming semi-final match against Argentina in Atlanta.
While the prize was not a shiny trophy, it was a substantial Deliveroo voucher valued at £1,966, a nod to the 60 years since England last lifted the World Cup. A reminder of the long wait for glory, the event attracted both dedicated fans and curious onlookers.
Among the participants was 19-year-old Zane Proctor, a university student from Manchester, who discovered the event through Instagram. He enthusiastically declared, “I was in the local area and thought, why not?” revealing his excitement about the tournament and his admiration for Bellingham. “I feel like he’s a really good idol,” he added, highlighting Bellingham’s inspirational presence for young players.
Another contestant, Gabriel Mian, a 20-year-old from Orlando, stumbled upon the event while studying in Britain. Initially unaware of the competition’s existence, he was encouraged by locals to participate. “He is criticised a lot by the media, and I feel like his response to the media is very inspirational for young and upcoming players. So beyond the football, beyond all the goals, I feel he is a really good ambassador for all the young people who look like me, and not even that look like me, to all the young kids that watch on TV. I feel like he is a really good person to look to.” he recounted, amused by the unexpected turn of events.
Interestingly, Bellingham has a younger brother, Jobe, who bears a striking resemblance to him and has followed a similar career path. However, Jobe was not present at the competition. Instead, the title of best lookalike went to 24-year-old Marcus Legemah, a master’s student at University College London, who was met with a lukewarm cheer from the crowd.
Legemah, who humorously noted that most of the compliments regarding his likeness to Bellingham come from “I had to come to the station anyway, and some people told me I had to go [to the competition],” expressed his delight at winning the contest. “So I just walked up and now l am here, I guess.” he said regarding his similarities to Bellingham. His victory, however, filled him with excitement. “Yeah, but it’s normally just drunk people in the pub,”
When asked about England’s chances in the World Cup, his confidence shone through. “More since Jude has been playing well. So this tournament, it’s happened.” he affirmed, embodying the hopeful spirit of his fellow fans.
