Whispers circulated: could this generational midfielder pivot into a striker? With his goal returns rising, tactical flexibility becoming a buzzword, and modern football embracing hybrid roles, the question feels more urgent than ever. In this article, QuraGoal will dig deep into whether can Bellingham play striker — not as speculative wishful thinking, but as a tactical possibility grounded in data, context, and footballing reality.
The evolution of Bellingham’s role: from box-to-box to attacking hub
To evaluate whether Bellingham can play as a striker, we must trace how his positional footprint has shifted over time.
In his early days at Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham operated as a true box-to-box engine: defending, pressing, surging forward, contributing to build-up phases, and engaging in half-spaces. Analysts often highlighted his stamina, work rate, and all-roundness.
However, since his transfer to Real Madrid, his heatmaps and shot zones have trended ever higher. He now often bears responsibility in advanced positions, drifting into wide half-spaces or even entering the box on the attack. Some shot-map visualizations show a tighter cluster of attempts closer to the opponent’s goal — a pattern more akin to a forward than a deep midfielder.
In the 2024–25 La Liga season, Bellingham scored 9 goals in 31 appearances and added 8 assists, a solid return for an attacking midfielder but not quite what you’d expect.
So the baseline: Bellingham is already playing in advanced roles more than in his Dortmund days, but he is not yet a full-time striker.
Traits that support a striker role
If one considers transitioning Bellingham to a striker, there are several qualities in his game that argue in favor:
- Goal sense and finishing ability
- He has improved his scoring rate year on year. His composure inside the box, ability to arrive late, and capacity to finish chances make him more than just a creator.
- Spatial intelligence and movement
- His off-ball movement, especially into half-spaces, is already excellent. As a forward, that spatial awareness helps in creating space, dragging defenders, and finding pockets between lines.
- Physical profile
- At 1.86 m, he has a decent enough frame to handle duels. In set pieces or crosses, he can be an aerial threat or hold off defenders.
- Linking play and versatility
- A modern striker isn’t just a finisher — they often drop, link, combine. Bellingham’s ability to drop deep, receive, combine, then burst forward gives him versatility a classic striker may lack.
Because of these traits, pundits and observers have floated the idea of deploying him as a second striker or false 9 — a hybrid bridge between midfield and attack.
Challenges and counterarguments
While there’s promise, shifting Bellingham into a full striker role is not without risk. Here are the main concerns:
- Loss of defensive and transitional value
- One of Bellingham’s strengths is his capacity to win back possession, press opponents, and help in transitions. As a striker, his defensive actions shrink, possibly making the team more exposed.
- Lack of traditional striker instincts always present
- True center forwards often have instincts like constant positional poaching, blindside runs behind defenders, and finishing in tight, crowded spaces. Bellingham is developing toward those characteristics, but it’s a different skill set.
Positioning and adaptation time
- Adapting to the runs, timing, and spatial constraints of being a focal forward could take time. He would go. Impact on team shape & balance
- If Madrid or England shift Bellingham forward, they must adjust teammates — perhaps sacrificing a natural striker or reconfiguring midfield. That could compromise balance.
- Consistency and risk of overexposure
- If he misfires as a striker, his weaknesses in finishing or positioning could be more glaring. A few bad games could cost momentum.
In short: even though he has many striker attributes, the role also demands specialized instincts and trade-offs.
Real instances and experiments
To see “can Bellingham play striker” in practice, we should look at how coaches have already tested him.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s experiments
- There have been matches where Bellingham pushed higher, operating almost as a target ahead of midfielders. In Champions League games, he has drifted into very attacking roles, at times confusing fans who saw him take up striker zones.
- Ancelotti even used him as a target man in certain setups, taking advantage of his ability to receive in advanced areas and finish crosses.
- England training and tactical speculation
- With injuries or rotation, England’s staff have explored pushing Bellingham further forward. Some reports claim he has trained in striker roles, likely as a tactical tweak against certain opponents.
- Tactical analysis & media speculation
- Analysts have suggested Bellingham playing as a second striker to “revolutionize” England’s tactical options. The idea is to allow him to link midfield and attack seamlessly, generating unpredictability.
- Mixed appearances in matches
- On occasion, Bellingham has been the furthest forward player during transitions, especially when teammates drop back. These are not strict “he’s the #9 now” deployments, but glimpses of how he might handle those responsibilities.
Thus, while not yet permanent, coaches have flirted with using him forward. On the pitch, he has delivered glimpses: attacking runs, goal involvements, high positioning.
Ideal striker role(s) for Bellingham
If he is to play as a forward, Bellingham is not likely to be the traditional no. 9. Instead, his optimal variants might be:
1. Second striker / supporting forward
He would be paired with a more traditional striker, operating between midfield and attack. This gives him space to drift, create, and finish, without being solely responsible for poaching goals.
2. False 9 / hybrid forward
In a system that lacks a rigid pivot, Bellingham could drop deep, roam, connect link-up, then surge in behind. This role gives flexibility and fits his instincts.
3. Advanced attacking midfielder in a front three
Not exactly a classic striker, but in a front three (say a false right or left forward in a front line), he can press, cut inside, and finish.
In these roles, the burden of classic striker duties is shared or mitigated—best aligned with what he already does well.
Statistical benchmarks: how does he compare to strikers?
To assess whether he can compare to strikers, let’s check some numbers:
- In 2024–25, Bellingham’s goals + assists in La Liga were 17 in 31 matches.
- Across all competitions that season, his combined output was solid: 16 goals, 17 assists in 61 matches.
- His goals.5 goals per game — Bellingham has not yet consistently achieved that as a forward.
- Shot location data shows his attempts are clustering closer to the opponent’s box more than before — a striker‐style pattern.
- But his expected goals (xG).
These stats suggest he’s bridging the gap, but not fully there. He outperforms many advanced midfielders; he’s not yet displacing elite strikers by pure numbers.
When, where, and against whom a striker role could work
It’s not “if” but “when, where, and against whom” that matters. Scenarios where deploying Bellingham as a striker might be wise include:
- Opponents who defend with a low block and invite combinations — his movement between lines can destabilize.
- In matches where you don’t need a dominant target man; fluid movement is preferable.
- As impact substitute when needing fresh attacking energy.
- In matches where the fixture demands pressing from the front — Bellingham’s defensive traits help.
However, in games requiring a physical target in the box, or where dominance in aerial duels is crucial, traditional strikers may still be preferred.
Risks for Madrid and England
- For Real Madrid, constantly shifting Bellingham forward could unbalance their midfield. Madrid’s structure heavily relies on midfield control; losing that might invite pressure.
- For England, pushing Bellingham up may reduce midfield depth, risking vulnerabilities in big matches.
- If injuries or form dips hit him while in forward positions, recovery might be harder in the spotlight of goal expectations.
- Fans and media would expect striker metrics; if his output plateaus, criticism would intensify.
Final Thoughts
Can Bellingham play striker? The answer is that he’s capable of doing so in certain roles and systems — most convincingly as a second striker, false 9, or hybrid attacker. What makes him special is that he can blur lines between midfield and offense, giving coaches tactical flexibility.
If you’re a Real Madrid or England fan, watching Bellingham in forward zones may become more common. But I don’t expect him to be a classic “number 9” in every game — the evolution will be selective, context-driven, and cautious.
From QuraGoal’s view, the best route is to let Bellingham’s strengths guide the shift: start in hybrid roles, test him in cup games or tactical experiments, and only push him fully forward when he (and the team) are ready. The goal isn’t just “can” — it’s “when, how, and sustainably.”
Want a tactical heatmap comparison, a projected stat forecast if he becomes a striker, or potential lineups for Madrid and England with Bellingham up front? Just say the word.
