England’s World Cup midfield spearhead Jude Bellingham can terrify opponents – while his mother is said to put fear into his team-mates’ wives and girlfriends.

The Real Madrid playmaker, 23, who has scored twice this tournament, is among the Three Lions stars who have publicly credited their parents for their key influence.

He has been seen hugging mother Denise in the stands following Man Of The Match performances at this summer’s tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

As Thomas Tuchel’s men prepare to take on DR Congo in Wednesday evening’s second round match, the German coach has also praised his players’ families.

Tuchel has discouraged the kind of friends and family ‘WAGs’ culture seen in Baden-Baden in Germany 20 years ago – while hailing the importance of inspirational mothers such as Kim Kane, Susan Pickford and Stephanie Rice.

Relatives of the current squad are an eclectic mix of low-profile and outspoken.

Bellingham’s mother Denise, a human resources officer, manages his financial affairs, cooks for him and has been described by the player as his ‘queen’. 

There are also suggestions she still makes his bed at their shared flat in Madrid’s exclusive La Finca neighbourhood – and keeps a stern eye on all his activities, keeping him ‘humble’.

England star Jude Bellingham has acclaimed his mother Denise as his ‘queen’

Jude Bellingham is seen greeting his mother Denise after scoring in England’s 4-2 World Cup victory over Croatia on June 17

When joining the Spanish club in 2024, the footballer brought up in the West Midlands town of Stourbridge said: ‘The role my mum is playing is massive.

‘It is probably the biggest role of anyone, more than my coaches and managers, to be honest.

‘Without my mum, sometimes I’d get too low with the lows or too high with the highs and I stay pretty humble because I’ve got her around.

‘It’s also great to have her there because she’s a great laugh as well. We get on so well and we’re always doing stuff together.’

She came to his rescue three years ago when, travelling with then-club Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham arrived at an airport without his passport – only for Denise to duly arrive and hand it over in a brown envelope. 

Reports have suggested England’s ‘WAGs’ are ‘terrified’ of her – yet she appears to have been won over by Bellingham’s influencer girlfriend Ashlyn Castro, 28. 

Sources told the Daily Mail’s Katie Hand that relations were ‘tense-ish’ between the women when Jude and Ashlyn got together in 2024, with some suggesting Denise is a ‘cold fish’ – but they have now formed an ‘unexpected and special bond’.

At the start of the couple’s romance, thought to have begun after they met on exclusive dating app Raya, Denise was reportedly ‘wary’ of Ashlyn, with her job as an influencer being a concern for both her and Jude’s father Mark.

England’s Jude Bellingham with his mother Denise and father Mark after the Croatia game

Jude Bellingham’s mother Denise was in the stands to see her son score in the second-half during England’s opening match

Jude Bellingham’s mother Denise and his girlfriend Ashlyn Castro

Jude Bellingham has been open about the importance of his mother to his career. Pictured: Jude, left, with mother Denise, father Mark and younger brother Jobe on holiday in July 2021

And unlike the small West Midlands town of Stourbridge where Jude and his footballer brother Jobe, 20, grew up, Ashlyn’s home city is Los Angeles. 

She regularly shares photographs of herself on board a private jet or at lavish hotels with her 700,000 followers on Instagram, as well as with her 254,000 TikTok fans.

A source within the England camp said: ‘Denise and Mark have put their life and soul into Jude and his brother becoming football stars – the last thing they want is a woman to use his success for their own gain.

‘So when Jude announced he was dating Ashlyn, the connotations of her job were not exactly appealing to his parents – in fact, there were red flags. I guess she had to prove herself.’

And now Ashlyn has been seen sitting next to Denise during England’s World Cup games – having previously supported Bellingham together during his appearances for Real Madrid at the Spanish giant’s Bernabeu ground.

Denise was previously pictured celebrating with Bellingham on the Wembley pitch after he inspired Real to a 15th Champions League title in 2024.

Back then he also introduced her to Jose Mourinho, who has now taken over again as manager of Real Madrid, telling the self-styled ‘Special One’: ‘My mum’s fancied you for years.’

Bellingham is far from the only Three Lions star effusive about his parents’ impact. 

Pictured: Jude Bellingham with his mother during his youth spell at boyhood club Birmingham

Midfielder Jude Bellingham embraced his mother Denise after the Champions League final triumph for Real Madrid in June 2024 at Wembley – he has hailed her as his ‘queen’

Harry Kane seen with his father Pat and wife Kate following the team’s victory vs Croatia

England captain Harry Kane is pictured celebrating Bayern Munich’s latest Bundesliga title triumph on May 10 2025 alongside parents Pat and Kim and other family members

Ollie Watkins, one of the centre-forward back-ups for England’s all-time leading goalscorer Kane, was at the centre of a viral moment at the last major tournament, the European Championship in 2024 – thanks to his mother.

Delsi-May Watkins, who performs under the stage name Ruby Washington in the soul band the Superstitions, was seen in footage from a pub shared widely on TikTok.

She was heard demanding that then-England manager ‘finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch’.

Watkins went on to score a last-minute winner against the Netherlands in that tournament’s semi-final, although England then lost the final 2-1 to Spain. 

The players have spoken in the past about the sacrifices their parents made to help them on their way during aspiring childhood trials and training.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s mother Susan would drive him to coaching sessions and matches.

She worked as a school receptionist while her husband Lee is a builder.

Young Jordan, who now plays for Everton after a £30million move from boyhood club Sunderland in 2017, would tuck into Tupperware tubs of pasta and chicken on the backseat.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins is pictured with his singer mother Delsi-May

She congratulated Watkins after his late winner against the Netherlands in England’s 2024 European Championship semi-final in Dortmund, Germany

Coach Mark Prudhoe recalled an occasion where a truculent nine-year-old Jordan started kicking the goalposts and having a tantrum after conceding a goal.

He recalled: ‘His mam came and gave him a little clip, to tell him to stop being a baby.’

Other mothers of current England stars include a nurse, a farmer and a chartered accountant who moved here from Nigeria.

Three Lions skipper Kane, who was born in the same east London hospital as predecessor David Beckham, is the son of mother Kim and father Patrick.

The couple were seen alongside his wife Kate, mother of his four children, at the official announcement of his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in Germany in August 2023. 

Kim is said to be a regular visitor to the Spanish resort of Lanzarote along with her mother Brenda – and has been welcomed by fans of fifth-tier club UD Lanzarote. 

She is said to have regularly taken time off work to take the young Harry to training sessions, in a childhood that saw him released by Arsenal before moving to Watford and then being taken on by Spurs. 

His great aunt Bette Bovington, 81, told in 2021 how the family ‘could not be prouder’ after he scored in England’s 2-0 victory over Germany at that summer’s Euros.

England captain Harry Kane has been supported fervently by his mother Kim

Harry Kane’s parents Patrick and Kim are seen at his Bayern Munich unveiling in August 2023

Kane’s mother Kim is pictured kissing him, with the England captain’s wife Katie to his left, when England played Denmark in Frankfurt at the 2024 European Championship 

And she said her niece Kim, Kane’s mother, as well as his father Pat had supported him throughout his youth as he looked to make his way as a professional footballer.

She said: ‘He could not have a better mum. She used to take him everywhere – she will be absolutely delighted after the Germany game.

‘We’re all so proud of him. He’s doing his best for his country and it’s brilliant to see. He’s also one of the nicest footballers out there.’ 

Tuchel announced this summer that Declan Rice would be England vice-captain, days after the Arsenal midfielder celebrated his side’s Premier League title victory though they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain.

Rice made his mother a focus of England’s World Cup preparations – admitting she told him off for appearing sunburnt in a new official team picture.

He told reporters last month: ‘I think everyone has seen those photos. I was bright red in that photo shoot – my mum was killing me!

‘Honestly, the first day we came, it was just getting used to that heat.

‘Coming from England, where it’s hot-cold and all different types of weather, to here where it’s always 30 degrees – it really does hit you in the face.’

Declan Rice was joined by parents Sean and Stephanie celebrating Arsenal’s recent league title

Declan Rice embraces his mother Stephanie after the team’s draw in the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25 2024

Rice’s parents Stephanie and Sean, who brought him up in New Malden in Surrey, posed alongside him at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium to celebrate the club’s first league title win since 2004. 

Playing alongside him for both club and country is winger Bukayo Saka, whose parents provided him with support after his missed penalty sealed England’s shoot-out defeat to Italy in the final of the 2020 European Championship.

His mother Adenike, married to his father Yomi, is a qualified chartered accountant – initially educated in the Nigerian city of Lagos.

She studied veterinary medicine in Zaria before the family moved to Britain and she achieved a diploma in accounting at the University of West London.

Saka shared a post on Instagram in March 2023 after scoring twice for Arsenal against Crystal Palace, saying: ‘Those were for you Mum. Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mum’s out there.’

His former PE teacher Mark Harvey has previously said of Saka’s parents: ‘They kept him grounded when he was growing up.

‘His dad would make him do his homework in the car as they were travelling up and down the country to games.’

Meanwhile, a source was quoted as saying: ‘Bukayo is incredibly close to his family, and still lives with his mum and dad. They’re lovely people – very hard-working and down to earth.’

Three Lions goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, with family including mother Susan and wife Megan

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s mother Susan would drive him to coaching sessions and matches. She worked as a school receptionist while her husband Lee is a builder

One of Pickford’s back-up goalkeepers, Crystal Palace stopper Dean Henderson, has opened up about his upbringing and his parents’ help.

He said in a post on the official England website: ‘I grew up in Whitehaven, in Cumbria, and you could say that, luckily, there wasn’t much going on outside of hobbies for the youngsters.

‘And because I had football, I just got obsessed with it and getting better at it and seeing improvements. 

‘I still remember trying to improve on crosses and getting my mum and dad to throw balls for me on the cul-de-sac at home and I think I was obsessed with it in a way.’

His mother Yvonne works as a nurse – with Henderson saying in 2019 he ‘couldn’t do anything’ in life and his career without his parents.

Ahead of helping his side Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the 2025 FA Cup final, Henderson revealed how his father Dougie had died aged 57 the previous year.

He hailed his father as his ‘best friend’, ‘first coach’ and ‘role model’, adding: ‘I always look up and he’s always there in my corner. He will be kicking every ball with me.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing what power he can give me on the day. He passed away a couple of days after the Euros, so luckily I got home to see him, which was nice.’

He previously flew his mother and other relatives out to Finland on a private jet to see his England debut in October 2024 not long after his father’s death.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is pictured with his chartered accountant mother Adenike

He said at the time: ‘It was a bit of a mad one because obviously I wanted my mum and my missus to come out – so we were trying to do last-minute flights to get them here.

‘I had to go all out and get them over here on a plane. I did it because I knew that it was such a big thing for the family. I didn’t want them to miss it. 

‘They landed on Sunday morning. I could see them up in the crowd. I could see that they were emotional. I’m delighted that they made it.’

Fellow Three Lions goalkeeper James Trafford, who plays for Manchester City, has spoken about his farming family upbringing in Cumbria with parents James and Allison.

He said: ‘I am a farmer’s son, all my family are farmers. I am from Cockermouth and everyone is supporting me at home.

‘When I was younger I thought about taking on the family farm but as I have got older, I have seen my dad and how hard he works and so not now.’

He was joined by and posed with his parents as well as his sister Charlotte when signing for Burnley in July 2023.

Trafford said of his mother and father: ‘They were the main part of why I’m here today and a professional footballer.

‘I moved away from home at 12 but still came home every week – my mum had to drive me at ridiculous hours down to Manchester or to train stations. They’re the biggest part of why I’m here today.’

Former Manchester City team-mate and fellow England player John Stones has paid tribute to his parents too – crediting mother Janet for his laidback attitude. 

When a concussion ruled the South Yorkshire-born player out of an England Under-21s game in 2015, then-manager Gareth Southgate called Janet to reassure her John would be well looked after.

England centre-back John Stones has credited mother Janet for his laidback attitude

After leaving Penistone Grammar School at 16, Stones signed with Barnsley and was paid £500 a week, but his parents Janet and Peter kept him grounded. 

He said: ‘They came to every home and away game, did mum and dad – they’ve put some miles in.’ 

Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly previously spoke about the importance to him of mother Holli, who brought him up as a single parent.

She shared a video message when he signed a new contract with the club last year, telling him: ‘I always remember, when you were about three months old, I looked at you and I knew you were special. 

‘Nothing in the world makes me happier than watching you play football, son – you know that.

‘I’ve always believed in you, and I always will. You’ve never changed. Don’t ever change. I am so proud of you. Congratulations, son.’

O’Reilly himself said in response: ‘I’ve always been there by her side. 

‘She brought me up by herself. I’m just happy I am making her proud.’

Nico O’Reilly’s mother Holli shared an emotional message on social media last year

She was a single parent when she raised O’Reilly who plays for England and Manchester City

Another social media post by an England player paying tribute to their mother was by Chelsea right-back Reece James in August 2022.

He wrote, alongside the picture of him with his arm around mother Emma: ‘Happy birthday Mum. Thank you for everything! Love you always & forever.’

His father Nigel James is a Uefa-qualified coach and his sister Lauren has 40 caps for England’s Lionesses, winning the Uefa Women’s Championship in 2025.

One mother missing from this summer’s World Cup has nevertheless been outspoken about the absence of her son Harry Maguire.

The Manchester United centre-back has appeared 66 times for England and scored in the 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden at the 2018 World Cup.

But he was one of several high-profile omissions from Tuchel’s squad for these finals, along with Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

Maguire responded by posting on social media: ‘I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had.

‘I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.’

Chelsea and England right-back Reece James posted on Instagram in August 2022 this photo, saying: ‘Happy birthday Mum Thank you for everything! Love you always & forever’

Harry Maguire was left out of this summer’s squad – to the fury of his mother Zoe

Maguire’s mother Zoe (right) branded his omission ‘disgraceful’ in a social media post

His mother Zoe replied: ‘You couldn’t have done anymore. Hold your head high… Disgraceful. Disgusted.’

Maguire’s brother Joe wrote: ‘This might possibly be the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life. No words.’

The Football Association was criticised in 2015 for a tweet about the England women’s team returning from that summer’s World Cup, at which they finished third.

The FA’s post said: ‘Our Lionesses go back to being mothers, partners and daughters today, but they have taken on another title – heroes.’

The tweet was swiftly removed, with the organisation acknowledging its mistake.

An FA spokesperson said: ‘The full story was a wider homecoming feature attempting to reflect the many personal stories within the playing squad as has been told throughout the course of the tournament.

‘However, we understand that an element of the story appears to have been taken out of context and the opening paragraph was subsequently revised to reflect that fact.’