How Taylor Swift helped Jude Bellingham win Golden Boy award

Jude Bellingham won the coveted Golden Boy Web award in 2023 thanks, in part, to a social media campaign from a large group of angry Taylor Swift fans. Let us explain.

Unlike the Golden Boy award, which was also won by Jude Bellingham in 2023 after he received 485 of a possible 500 points from a jury of journalists, the Web version is decided by a fan vote.

Italian publication Tuttosport shortlisted 100 young players for the prize, with 20 names being eliminated at regular intervals.

READ MORE: What happened to the 40-man shortlist for 2016 Golden Boy award

At one stage, Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde was leading the public vote. In fact, Balde was ahead with 45.2% of the vote compared to Bellingham's 30.3%, according to Mundo Deportivo.

But in a short space of time, Bellingham's share of the online vote surged from around 30% to 89%, while Balde's support collapsed. But why?

Taylor Swift fans launched campaign to help Jude Bellingham win Golden Boy Web award

An old quote that was attributed to Balde began to circulate online, in which he supposedly said: "Do I like Taylor Swift? No, I don't like her music."

Fans of Swift, known as Swifties, took exception to the alleged remark and launched a campaign encouraging people to vote for the Real Madrid and England midfielder instead.

Taylor Swift fans hijacked the Golden Boy Web award votes. Image credit: X

In fact, one post encouraging Swift fans to back Bellingham picked up millions of views. According to AS, another post read: "We can't let him win the award. Vote for Jude Bellingham here."

Despite the speculation, there is actually no credible evidence to suggest Balde ever made the comment about Swift's music.

Bellingham would go on to win both the Golden Boy and Golden Boy Web awards in November 2023, becoming the first English player to win the award since Raheem Sterling in 2014.

He won the prize just months after joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey so far at Birmingham, Dortmund and now Madrid. It wouldn't be possible without them," he said at the time.

"Lastly and most importantly my family who give me the support and motivation and love every day to keep striving.

"Now I have this prestigious award I want to keep going. I want to keep pushing the limits of my potential and hopefully many more trophies to come."

A month earlier, Bellingham was awarded the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which is handed to the best under-21 player in world football.