A Path of His Own: Jobe’s Journey Begins at Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund signed Jobe Bellingham and have been ushering him into the next phase of his professional soccer career. With his first two games in the yellow and black jersey, he has already secured a man of the match title as well as scored his first goal. In their last nail-biter of a match against Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Jobe scored a goal that would keep Dortmund on top for a majority of the game. The question is whether he will be able to create a legacy separate from his already trophy-studded brother Jude Bellingham.
To separate himself from the Bellingham path that his older brother had already forged, Jobe changed the name on the back of his jersey to just his first name. At just 19 years old, he has signed a contract with BVB that goes until the 2030 season and is projected to make three million euros per year, with the potential to be five million euros with bonuses. After finishing fourth in the Bundesliga, Dortmund needed a change to their lineup that would shake things up. These last two seasons, since losing Jude Bellingham have seen fourth and fifth place finishes for a team that was finishing in the top three in the previous five years.
Despite trying to distance himself, Jobe seems to be the Bellingham replacement at Dortmund. They have been looking to replace a game changer, someone who will come in and dominate the pitch, not only in play but in leadership. Even though he is a young player, he possesses the qualities of a seasoned player in his movements on the ball. The reason he was able to obtain man of the match in their last FIFA Club World Cup game was due to his sheer athleticism and ability to maintain possession of the ball in physical plays. His style uses more of his body to hold the ball, beating players on strength alone.
There is a blatant similarity between the brothers, and they will always have some sort of intertwining legacy. They are both seen as natural leaders, incredible athletes, and poised young men. Jobe is right to want to create a legacy of his own, but he should not try to get caught up in the nuances of whether or not he will ever live up to his brother, considering they have different styles of play and contribute differently to the teams they are on. Jobe has a great amount of time to leave his mark on Dortmund, and if he does win a Champions League in his time there, he will already overtake his brother’s legacy in the jersey.
Dortmund’s match against Ulsan HD FC is another chance for Jobe to show off his capabilities and create show-stopping moments of his own. The comparison of siblings in the soccer world can break careers and confidence; however, the Bellingham brothers seem to uplift each other in all aspects of life and can tune out any negativity that may come their way. It will be exciting to watch such a young talent grow into a seasoned veteran and find his footing at such a big club in Germany. Jobe Bellingham is a player to watch and will soon be spoken about in the same conversations as his brother without a comparison but with an appreciation.
