Bellingham praises young trading card designer

An 11-year-old who won a competition to design a football trading card has been praised for his efforts by Jude Bellingham.

Archie, from Telford in Shropshire, was one of more than 2,000 entrants in the contest run by Topps, and he said: "I was very happy and super excited when my mum told me I had won. I couldn't believe it was real."

He said his design featured a flaming backdrop, because "he (Jude) was playing on fire".

The Stourbridge-born footballer congratulated Archie and said: "It's beautiful. I love the colours, I love everything about it."

The competition had challenged children to design a card featuring the England and Real Madrid midfielder.

Topps said the card designed by Archie "perfectly captures Bellingham's blazing form" and it will now be produced as a one-of-a-kind trading card.

Archie said he was a Bellingham super fan and liked to replicate his goal celebration on the playground.

He said: "I wish I could be like him when I'm older."

Rebecca, Archie's mother, said: "He smiled from ear to ear and thought I was joking when I told him he had won.

"Once I showed him, he started jumping about the bedroom. I couldn't be prouder of him."

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