Jude Bellingham was battered, bruised and bullied against Brazil… stop England’s star by any means necessary is the aim of the game – and it’s something he will need to get used to, writes SAMI MOKBEL

The letter ‘B’ stands for Bellingham. It also stands for abused, bruised and bullied.

All four went hand in hand here at Wembley on Saturday evening as Brazil worked relentlessly to stop the pin-up boy of English football.

Kicked from pillar to post, Brazil’s strategy was clear. Rough him up. Torment him. Kick him.

Stop Jude Bellingham by any means necessary.

Considering the great season he is having at Real Madrid, this is probably the only way to stop him.

Lucas Paqueta took a piece from him. Bruno Guimaraes did that too. They weren’t the only ones.

Bellingham should take it as a compliment, even if his body might not take it well when he wakes up Sunday morning.

Of course, it’s something he just has to get used to. It comes with the territory of an elite attacking footballer.

Ask Kylian Mbappe. Ask Lionel Messi. Ask Cristiano Ronaldo.

Closer to home, it is something Bukayo Saka has had to get used to, much to the chagrin of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

But what Saka has done well is that he has learned not to bite. Don’t be fooled by Saka’s cool looks, the treatment he gets is eating away at him.

But he makes his aggressors pay the ultimate price, without resorting to anything sinister, with his brilliance on the field.

Goals and assists. That’s where Saka’s real value lies. The same goes for Bellingham.

There’s no doubt that Bellingham can withstand such rough treatment. Even at the age of twenty, he is physically imposing.

He is tall in stature and athletic, but can mix it up when necessary. Indeed, an early challenge off the back of Guimaraes for which Bellingham was booked illustrated that he is not one to be pushed around.

That’s a quality in Bellingham’s all-around game that sets him apart. Yes, the technical skill is exceptional, but there is a physical edge to his game that has contributed to his emergence as a generational talent.

Wayne Rooney was the same. Bursting with capabilities, but with an inherent fighting spirit.

But there were moments when Rooney failed to temper his emotions, something that cost England and Manchester United.

Retaliation and retaliation are tempting, but often costly.

Bellingham’s Brazilian treatment on Saturday night is likely a sign of things to come. What is important is that he somehow controls any urge to take revenge, other than through his footballing excellence.

Because if England are to win the European Championships this summer, their prodigious midfielder will be at the heart of their glorious glory.

In the eyes of the supporters, he was already a hero: ‘Juuuuuuuuude’ sounded through Wembley just before kick-off.

‘Belligoal’ was posted to England’s official X account earlier today, accompanied by a short video of their superstar No.10 scoring a cheeky goal in training at St George’s Park last week.

Not since Rooney burst onto the scene in the 2000s has there been such delirium over a young English footballer.

When England travel to Germany this summer, it will be this prodigiously talented 20-year-old – and captain Harry Kane – who will carry the country’s hopes.

The reality, of course, is that it will take more than Bellingham and Kane for England to end 58 years of pain.

Southgate already warned on Friday. But who does the England head coach think he is fooling?

Immortality awaits England. It’s in store for Bellingham too, although the way his career is progressing there is every chance he will achieve immortal status regardless of how England fares later this year.

Deployed in a number 10 role, Bellingham showed flashes of the brilliance with which he took Real Madrid by storm against Brazil this season.

It was clear that Southgate had relieved Bellingham of the defensive duties he would normally perform so diligently in his more general role as a box-to-box midfielder.

Whether Bellingham will take on a similarly advanced role in Germany remains to be seen. It will probably also depend on the opposition.

The temptation to play Bellingham deeper in the attacking third is clear: 20 goals in 31 games for Real this season speaks for itself.

But here against Brazil you felt he would be more useful in a deeper role in midfield, where he would see more of the ball.

Southgate has three months to work all that out. But wherever he plays, Bellingham will be at the heart of England’s ambitions this summer.