A Jude Bellingham lookalike competition has crowned the England star's doppelganger, just hours before the World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The event, held at Boxpark in Shoreditch on Wednesday afternoon, drew a large crowd eager to see who would be named the closest match to the 23-year-old midfielder.
Competition details and winner
The competition featured a slew of Bellingham lookalikes who took turns on stage, showcasing their keepy-uppies and mimicking the player's wide-armed celebration. The honour was awarded to Marcus, who accepted his prize from a convincing Erling Haaland doppelganger. The crowd then broke into a chorus of 'Hey Jude', Bellingham's World Cup calling card.
Marcus received a vinyl of The Beatles hits and a £1,966 Deliveroo voucher, a nod to the last time England won the World Cup in 1966. Signs advertising the event promised free drinks and prizes at the east London venue, which has been a popular spot for tournament matches.
Context and World Cup significance
The lookalike competition follows a trend of viral events two years ago, including one for Timothée Chalamet attended by the actor himself. England are aiming to end 60 years of hurt in the semi-final against historic rivals Argentina. Security has been increased for the match in Atlanta, given political tensions over the Falkland Islands and Argentina's contentious 1986 World Cup win.
Bellingham has scored six goals in the tournament so far, including a brace against Norway in the quarter-final. The winner of the semi-final will face Spain in the final.
