10 games,10 goals: Can Jude Bellingham replicate Ronaldo’s Real Madrid legacy?
Jude Bellingham
From Alfredo Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane, and Luiz Figo to Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid is among the few football clubs to boast the most legends gracing the beautiful game.
With Jude Bellingham‘s superb start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu, another legend might be in the making. Since the beginning of the season, Bellingham has been an unstoppable force for the Galácticos.
Most football fans cannot resist the temptation of concluding that Real Madrid has another potential Ballon d’Or winner on their hands, even though it may still be too early to make grand predictions.
The 20-year-old English midfielder is off to a great start at Real Madrid.
The midfielder’s stunning debut at Santiago Bernabeu has left his teammates in awe. At the same time, some considered him a cheap deal after the club got for €103 million ($137 million) in the summer.
The English player is in a class of his own now and may be the best in the world, given his current form.
Most Champions League starts by an under-21 English player
His sublime start made him an easy selection for Real Madrid’s Champions League game against Napoli on October 3.
He began the match in the number 10 position, where he excelled this season under Carlo Ancelotti. However, what was another typical start for Bellingham became a historical moment for the promising footballer.
Bellingham became the under-21 English player with the most games starting in the UEFA Champions League. His 23rd match surpassed Trent Alexander-Arnold, who held the record with 22 Champions League starts for Liverpool before turning 21.
Bellingham started two more Champions League games for Real Madrid after starting 21 for Borussia Dortmund. The wonder kid will stretch that record further and keep it for years to come since he still has until June 2024 before turning 21.
Highest goal involvements for a non-striker so far this season
Bellingham contributed massively as Real Madrid won Napoli in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League encounter with a goal and an assist.
His next game was against Osasuna, where he scored twice in what has become a routine for the player.
Bellingham has ten goals and three assists in ten games for Real Madrid across all competitions this season.
So far, in all five of the leading European leagues this season, his 13-goal contributions have been the highest by a non-striker.
Fifth-most UCL goals by an under-21 player
Bellingham, who is 20 years old, scored a stunning goal against Napoli for his eighth UEFA Champions League goal.
Only four players have surpassed that mark in the UCL before turning 21.
Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, and Patrick Kluivert are among the other members of the elite club Bellingham joined.
Haaland scored 20 goals, Mbappe, 19, Benzema, 12, and Kluivert has nine.
Undoubtedly, the in-form English man will move higher on the list before turning 21 next year.
Breaking Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record
Jude Bellingham tied a record previously held by the legendary Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo with his goal against Napoli.
With that goal, Bellingham became the first Real Madrid player since 2009, and the third in history to score in his first two UEFA Champions League matches.
Only Ronaldo and Christian Karembeu had accomplished such a feat before Bellingham, placing the England international in a very elite group.
Also, after ten games for the Los Blancos, Bellingham has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 11-goal contribution in his first ten appearances for the Spanish giant.
The England international has 13 goal contributions, including ten goals and three assists.
Bellingham plays as a number 10, which makes it even more impressive.
