A football finance expert has backed England star Jude Bellingham and girlfriend Laura Celia Valk to become more marketable than Cristiano Ronaldo . Bellingham was the Three Lions’ hero against Slovakia last Sunday, scoring a breathtaking overhead kick to keep England in Euro 2024. It was the latest magical moment from the prodigious midfielder, 21, who was crowned La Liga Player of the Year in his debut season at Real Madrid .
A few months before the tournament, it emerged that Bellingham was in a relationship with PrettyLittleThing model Valk , 25, known as Laura Celia on social media. His growing status on and off the pitch means the former Birmingham City starlet has been tipped to become a more valuable icon than Ronaldo, whose net worth currently sits at £203m ($250m) and is the world ’s highest-paid athlete. The England midfielder may have enjoyed a dream start to his Real Madrid career, winning La Liga and the Champions League , but he still has some way to go to match Ronaldo’s earning power.
Bellingham’s net worth is currently £39m ($50m) stemming from his existing endorsement deals, such as Lucozade and McDonald's – but that figure could grow exponentially over the coming years. "Bellingham has the potential to exceed Ronaldo and Messi in terms of marketability,” Dr Rob Wilson, a Professor of Applied Sport Finance, told Saxo . “If we had this conversation in 10 years' time and Bellingham continues his trajectory with Real Madrid, then I think he wil.
