England’s ‘JB’ has admitted he fancies shifting his shirt number from ‘10’ to ‘007′ when his footballing career comes to an end
Jude Bellingham says he would ‘love’ to be James Bond and could ditch England for Hollywood when he hangs up his boots.
The Three Lions’ talisman has already notched up two goals and an assist at the World Cup and hopes to fill his boots against minnows DR Congo in today’s (wed) last 32 knockout clash.
But England’s ‘JB’ has admitted he fancies shifting his shirt number from ‘10’ to ‘007’.
He told After Hours with James Corden he hopes to move into acting – and Bond would be his dream role.
“People would always ask me ‘what’s the thing you want to do outside of football?’
“And I never really give it that much thought.
“But when I have it always comes out – I’d love to be in a film,” Bellingham said.
The 23-year-old midfielder seems to see himself as an old-style Bond – admitting he had watched all the Sean Connery and Roger Moore movies.
“I’d love to be James Bond,” he said.
“I’ve watched the Connery ones, Roger Moore.
“I’ve seen all of them.
“I love James Bond. I swear, I’d love to be.”
During the show he and Corden went fishing and sang England terrace anthem Sweet Caroline in the Brit TV presenter’s Carpool Karaoke.
Bellingham revealed he has become a big fan of the US – which is co-hosting the current tournament with Mexico and Canada.
And it is not just Hollywood that has caught his eye.
He revealed he would eventually like to move to Major League Soccer in the US and follow in the footsteps of David Beckham.
‘I do think it would be cool to live there and play there as well,” he said.
“I do think at some point that would be pretty cool.
“Look at Becks and him going to the LA Galaxy and then doing what he’s done in Miami.”
Bellingham said it would be ‘beyond iconic, beyond legendary’ if the Lions lifted the World Cup to end 60 years of hurt since their sole triumph in 1966.
“It’d be something that would bring the country together for years and years,” he said.
“And when it does, I think it’ll be an unbelievable time for the country.”
Bellingham has already become a huge star in the US.
In a Daily Star ‘whose that player’ quiz visitors to America’s home of the stars Beverly Hills, near Hollywood, Bellingham was the only one everyone recognised.
Every single fan of nations from the US and Mexico to Czechia and Bosnia picked out Bellingham – who proved more recognisable than record goal-scoring skipper Harry Kane..
Asked why she knew Jude one American girl cooed: “Because he’s beautiful.”
Another US sports fan said the Real Madrid midfielder was ‘the only one I recognise’.
“That’s the only one I know,” he said.
“I’ve heard of him. I’ve heard he’s a great player.”
Bookmakers were last night slashing the odds of Bellingham becoming Bond.
He may a leg up on some of the rumoured front-runners to succeed Daniel Craig, including Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi and Chelsea fan Callum Turner.
Debbie McWilliams, who cast the last three Bonds, said she wants to ‘see somebody who is completely out of the blue’.
Coral cut the odds of Jude playing Bond from 100-1 to 66-1.
Spokesman John Hill said: “Jude Bellingham has already established himself as one of the biggest stars in world football.
“And it’s clear fans can picture him swapping football boots for a tuxedo.
“Since admitting he’d love to play Bond we’ve seen support for him in our betting and his odds have been cut into 66-1.
“He’s still a long shot at this stage but if he inspires England to World Cup glory this summer, those odds will be much shorter.”
William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps, said: “We’ve added him into the betting to succeed Daniel Craig as 007.
“He joins a selection of celebrities at three-figure prices, but we have Bellingham more likely to be sipping dry martinis on-screen than the likes of Ryan Gosling, Hugh Jackman and Harry Styles.
“The Real Madrid maestro makes up one of two England stars in the running to be named the next Bond.
“We have him five times as likely to swap the football pitch for the film set than his teammate and captain Harry Kane. He is 1,000-1.”