As a teenager, Jude Bellingham says he didn’t like football, but he wants to encourage the next crop of footballers to take up the sport.

The 19-year-old is one of the world’s best players and was named Bundesliga player of the season this week. He came so close to winning the title with Borussia Dortmund.

In the winter, Bellingham led England to the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar. He has become an important player for both his country and his club.

But things might have been very different if I hadn’t had a “light bulb” moment when I was a kid.

Even though Bellingham would often watch his father, Mark, score a lot of goals for non-league clubs in the Midlands, he wasn’t interested in football at first.

The English player told the PA news agency, “I just wasn’t having it.”

“My dad took me to his minor league games, and it kind of clicked after a while, but it took a while.”

“I think it was annoying for him for a while, but once it got to me, I was hooked, and I still am, thank goodness.”

As for when he “fell in love with” football, Bellingham can’t say for sure, but he says it was at his hometown club Birmingham.

He remembers with fondness the “wide-eyed happiness” he felt when he went to Blues training. It’s that same happiness that he wants to give to other people.

Bellingham has become an ambassador for McDonald’s Fun Football, a program that offers free, open-level football lessons to kids ages 5 to 11 in more than 1,500 sites across the UK.

It was great to play Fun Football for the first time with the kids. He said, “It was great to come here and have a kickabout with them and see what it’s all about.”

McDonald’s is doing things to make sure that everyone has the chance to get into football, which is something I’ve never seen before.

“It’s so important to me because the game is becoming more open to everyone.”

“Well, the (England) women’s win at the Euros last year pretty much put women’s football on the map, and there were so many great boys and girls from all walks of life here today.”

“They all just show up to have fun and play.” “Seeing them laugh and have fun makes me happy because that’s what it’s all about.”

Bellingham is “very proud” of the fact that he can “make an impact on the next generation.” He stayed long after the session to sign autographs and pose for pictures.