Jude Bellingham has provided an explanation for the celebration gesture he made after scoring in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and AS Monaco. The English midfielder made a “drinking gesture,” referring to people who had called him “a drunkard.”
Real Madrid produced a ruthless Champions League performance as they swept AS Monaco aside 6-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu, a statement win that combined intensity, clinical finishing, and a clear sense of purpose.
The final flourish belonged to Jude Bellingham, who capped the evening by scoring Madrid’s sixth goal and then turning the spotlight on himself for a moment with a celebration that quickly became the main talking point afterwards.
Bellingham’s goal came late in the contest, by which time the match had already opened up and Monaco were struggling to contain Madrid’s movement and wave after wave of attacks. With the result long since decided, the England midfielder still played with the same edge and urgency that has become his trademark, arriving into space in the final third and finishing to round off an emphatic win. It was the type of contribution that sums up why he has become so important for Real Madrid: he does not merely participate in the game, he regularly stamps his authority on it, even when the scoreline suggests the job is already done.
What followed, however, ensured his name would dominate the post match conversation. After scoring, Bellingham celebrated by miming the act of downing different alcoholic drinks, a theatrical sequence that immediately prompted speculation online and in the stands. Rather than letting the gesture be interpreted in multiple ways, he addressed it directly after the match in his interview with TNT Sports, explaining that it was a tongue in cheek response to rumours and comments that he is often in the pub and, as some have put it, a drunkard.
“A lot of people say all sorts of things,” Bellingham said, before expanding on the wider point he was trying to make about modern narratives and how quickly they can harden into something accepted as fact. “You can deal with it in two ways. You can cry abouts about it, complain, and hire a lawyer. Or you can just accept it and enjoy it. This was a little joke for the fans and the people who say whatever they want. It feels like these days anyone can stand in front of a camera and everyone blindly believes what’s being said, without any proof.”
His comments reflect a growing frustration among elite players with the speed and certainty of modern commentary, where clips, opinions, and rumours spread rapidly across social platforms and are often amplified without verification. Bellingham’s approach, at least on this occasion, was to reclaim the narrative with humour rather than confrontation. By turning a rumour into a celebration, he flipped the dynamic, taking away its sting and reminding people that he remains in control of how he responds.
He also underlined that the external noise does not change his view of himself or his priorities, particularly his commitment to performance and to the group around him. “I know the truth, I know what’s really going on in my private life, and I know what I actually contribute to the sport and the team. All that outside criticism doesn’t really matter, but it’s fun to have a little joke now and then.” That line was arguably as significant as the celebration itself, because it positions the gesture not as defensiveness, but as confidence. He is not pleading his case. He is asserting that his work, week after week, speaks louder than any accusation.
The discussion then moved to something else Bellingham has faced recently: being booed by his own supporters in some matches. For many players, that situation can quickly become a sensitive subject, but he treated it with the same calm perspective, framing it as part of the relationship between Real Madrid and its fans. “The fans work the whole week, save up to come to the matches of Real Madrid and support us. Then they have the right to say what they want,” he said. It is a notably mature stance for a player still early in his career, and it speaks to an understanding of what comes with playing for a club where expectations are relentless and emotion in the stands can swing quickly.
In many ways, the night offered a snapshot of Bellingham’s growing stature at Real Madrid. On the pitch, he contributed at the decisive end of the game, arriving in the right place, finishing, and maintaining standards even in a one sided contest. Off the pitch, he handled scrutiny in a manner that was composed, direct, and surprisingly reflective, acknowledging the reality of modern football discourse while refusing to be consumed by it.
For Real Madrid, the 6-1 scoreline will be remembered as the main business of the evening: a dominant European win that boosts confidence and reinforces their attacking rhythm. For Bellingham, it was another reminder that every moment is analysed, every gesture can become a headline, and every response matters. This time, he chose humour, clarity, and a firm message: he knows who he is, he knows what he gives to the team, and he is not going to let unproven noise define him.
Updated: 10:30, 21 Jan 2026
