Jude Bellingham has made an incredible start to his career at Real Madrid, equaling a record previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo. The 20-year-old midfielder, who joined the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund for £115m this summer, scored a late winner in Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Union Berlin in their Champions League group-stage opener on Wednesday night.
Since his arrival, Bellingham has been in outstanding form, finding the back of the net six times in as many appearances across all competitions. He opened his goal-scoring account for Real Madrid on his La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao in mid-August and has now replicated that feat on his Champions League debut for Los Blancos.
In the dying moments of the game, Bellingham seized the opportunity, pouncing on a loose ball inside the six-yard box to secure all three points for the hosts and break Union Berlin’s hearts. This accomplishment has placed the former Birmingham City man in an exclusive group of Real Madrid stars who have scored on their La Liga and Champions League debuts, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, and Marco Asensio.
It is worth noting that Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer with an astonishing 450 goals in just 438 games, achieved this milestone back in 2009. Isco and Asensio followed suit in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
Bellingham’s late winner also made him the youngest-ever Real Madrid player and the youngest Englishman to score a stoppage-time goal in the Champions League. Clearly elated with his performance, Bellingham expressed his joy and said, “I’d much rather keep scoring in the 90 plus than the 15th! It’s always good to score late because it normally confirms the game.”
Reflecting on the match, Bellingham praised his team’s dominant display and their never-say-die attitude. He attributed this mentality to the rich history of Real Madrid, stating, “That’s the history of the club. I’m new to the club but I’ve watched them on TV since I was little. I can’t remember from what age I’ve been watching Madrid complete comebacks when I’ve been thinking there’s no chance and it’s not possible.”
Bellingham also emphasized the importance of learning from his experienced teammates and the impact of the passionate Real Madrid fans. He described the fans’ support as overwhelming, stating, “You don’t really understand how big this club is until you play for them, and I’ve got that honor now and I’ll always wear it with pride.”
Looking ahead, Bellingham aims to continue his impressive form as Real Madrid prepares to face city rivals Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in La Liga on Sunday.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
