Following England's qualification for the World Cup 2026 semi-finals, where they will face Argentina, midfielder Jude Bellingham actively engaged on social media, sharing messages and images with his more than 46,8 million Instagram followers.

“We are still fighting. The semi-finals are next. Keep the faith,” the Real Madrid star wrote on his personal page, celebrating the quarter-final victory against Norway.

Amidst the celebration and embraces with his "Three Lions" teammates, a photograph Bellingham shared on his Instagram timeline immediately drew attention. It showed him wearing a specialized oxygen mask.

Jude Bellingham shared photos using an oxygen mask on Instagram. Photo: Judebellingham Instagram.

This was not the first time the young midfielder posted images of himself using an oxygen mask on social media; it is a familiar recovery method he employs throughout the season to maintain peak performance.

Delving deeper into the device's mechanism from a sports medicine perspective, orthopedic trauma doctor Juan Arnal explained that this type of mask operates similarly to hyperbaric oxygen chambers. This technology is popular among professional athletes, as it enhances atmospheric pressure, thereby optimizing the body's ability to absorb oxygen.

The expert also added that scientific studies have shown that increasing oxygen supply for metabolic processes significantly accelerates the recovery rate of muscle injuries. This is the core reason why football players increasingly favor this solution, as oxygen supplementation via masks is often combined with hyperbaric chamber therapy to maximize recovery effectiveness after extremely high-intensity matches.

Following the quarter-final matches on 11/7, World Cup 2026 has identified the four final teams, divided into two evenly matched semi-final pairings: France - Spain and England - Argentina. These are considered dream semi-final matchups, as all teams are top championship contenders, having each won the title at least once in history. The match between Argentina and England will take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, US, at 2h on 16/7, Hanoi time.

Binh Minh (According to Marca)