A dozen young men who bore a passing resemblance to England midfielder Jude Bellingham gathered at Boxpark in Shoreditch, east London, on Wednesday for a lookalike contest, held hours before England's semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta. The winner received a Deliveroo voucher worth £1,966, a nod to the six decades since England last won the World Cup.
Competition Details and Winner
The event, which attracted a mix of fans and influencers, was won by Marcus Legemah, a 24-year-old master's student at University College London. He was awarded the prize by an Erling Haaland lookalike, to cries of "Kiss! Kiss!" referencing the real-life friendship between the two players. Legemah, who is often told he looks like Bellingham by "drunk people in the pub," said the victory "means everything" and that he would celebrate the final with pizzas and beer.
Contestants' Perspectives
Zane Proctor, a 19-year-old Manchester university student, described Bellingham as "a really good idol" and "a good ambassador for all the young people." Gabriel Mian, 20, from Orlando, stumbled upon the event by chance while studying in Britain. "Some people told me I had to go, so I just walked up," he said.
Bellingham's Impact
Bellingham has scored six goals in as many games in the World Cup, and his younger brother Jobe has followed a similar career path, playing for Birmingham City, Borussia Dortmund, and England's Under 16s. Jobe was not present at the Shoreditch event. Marcus Legemah, when asked about shared characteristics with Bellingham, said: "Sadly, apart from looks I don’t think there’s much."
Despite the lighthearted nature of the contest, the mood was optimistic about England's chances. "I think we are going to win. You have to have the confidence. I think it’s coming home," Legemah said.
