Crying Jude Bellingham is consoled by his parents and WAG Ashlyn Castro after England's World Cup semi-final heartbreak

Jude Bellingham

fought back tears as he was comforted by family and friends after

England

's World Cup campaign came to an end with a defeat to Argentina in Atlanta last night.

The Real Madrid midfielder, arguably the Three Lions' standout player of the tournament, was unable to reproduce the heroics that led his team to victory over Norway as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against the defending world champions.

Anthony Gordon

had given England the lead before

Enzo Fernandez

and

Lautaro Martinez

struck late on to book Argentina's place in Sunday's showpiece at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.

Long after the final whistle, and following a feisty confrontation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco, Bellingham turned to his family for support.

Footage showed the

Real Madrid

star embracing his father, Mark Bellingham, and mother, Denise Bellingham, while wiping away tears. His close friend and England team-mate Morgan Rogers was also seen hugging his parents.

The 23-year-old was also spotted sitting alongside

his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro,

28, appearing visibly downcast by the afternoon's events.

Footage showed the Real Madrid star embracing his father, Mark Bellingham, while wiping away tears

The Real Madrid star was spotted sitting alongside his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, 28, appearing visibly downcast by the afternoon's events

The pair were joined by Bellingham's father, Mark, and his mother, Denise, in the stands after the final whistle

It was a change in mood from what had preceded it, with Bellingham having become embroiled in a heated altercation with Barco in the moments after the final whistle.

Bellingham slapped the young Strasbourg player's head from behind, sparking a brief melee involving players from both sides.

It remains unclear what triggered the reaction from the Real Madrid midfielder, though footage has circulated showing Barco running onto the pitch after Fernandez's 85th-minute equaliser and celebrating in front of the England players rather than joining his team-mates by the corner flag.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, described Barco's actions as 'probably the worst example of sportsmanship we've seen at this World Cup'.

Barco, 21, plays for French side Strasbourg and previously spent time at Brighton. He is reportedly set to join Chelsea ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

The Argentine has featured just once at the tournament, coming off the bench in the second half of his side's 3-1 group-stage victory over Jordan.

The match itself was incredibly attritional, with 19 fouls committed in the first half, as American referee Ismail Elfath struggled to keep a lid on things.

In the very first minute, Alexis Mac Allister set the tone for what was about to unfold, flooring Elliot Anderson just 19 seconds after the first whistle.

A few minutes later, Bellingham appeared to confront Messi for another foul on Anderson.

'We were really just discussing a foul, actually,' Bellingham is reported to have said after the match.

'It wasn't anything bad. I'm sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal, but it was nothing.'

Bellingham became embroiled in a heated altercation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco in the moments after the final whistle

'I wish I could say more. I wish I could give one more win or two more wins. But at the moment I'm kind of - my head's a bit fuzzy with disappointment,' he said in his post-match interview

As for his post-match assessment, Bellingham said: 'I think we can take a lot from the experience, but it's so gutting.

'I wanted to be a part of an England squad that had finally done it, finally got it over the line. And to be here telling the fans unfortunately the same things that they've probably heard for years and years, it's really gutting.

'I wish I could say more. I wish I could give one more win or two more wins. But at the moment I'm kind of - my head's a bit fuzzy with disappointment.'

During the post-match celebrations, Argentina's stars held aloft a banner that read: 'The Malvinas (Falklands) are ours.'

That has led to calls for the players involved to face disciplinary action from FIFA.

Despite FIFA's ban on political flags, Tottenham captain Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and ex-Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso celebrated with the controversial sign after the final whistle.

Captain and star player Messi was also seen dancing alongside the banner.

FIFA has yet to comment, but the governing body is under huge pressure to punish Argentina for flouting its rules. Manchester United and Spurs are being urged to punish Martinez and Romero.

Twelve years ago, the team carried the same banner at an international friendly and was fined just £20,000.

But there are growing calls for the players who carried the banner at a match of such magnitude - watched by an estimated 950million people worldwide - to face tougher sanctions.

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