Jude Bellingham beats Ronaldo's Real Madrid Record by cementing his status as a Real Madrid hero with a late win against Celta Vigo on Friday night.
The 20-year-old England international nodded with nine minutes left to continue Real's perfect start to the season. He has scored four goals in his first three La Liga games, becoming the first player to do so for Real since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
What makes Bellingham's performance even more remarkable is the fact that Real's opening games were all played away at the Bernabéu. Refurbishment of the famous stadium is underway, and the midfielder is set to make his home debut next Saturday against Getafe.
Real beat out competition from most of Europe's top clubs, including Liverpool, to sign Bellingham for £88.5 million from Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer. Bellingham tweeted, "I love the late winner, 3/3." "It's time to see my new house."
Bellingham scored in his La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao in Real Madrid's 2-0 win. He then scored twice, his first for the Spanish giants, to bounce back from the deficit against Almeria in a 3-1 win.
Jude Bellingham beats Ronaldo's Real Madrid Record
Bellingham was used as the False nine against Celta Vigo, and Carlo Ancelotti made the most of his attacking talent. Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Aurelian Choameni have taken on deeper roles, while Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have joined the wings.
The English player will surprisingly fill the void left by Karim Benzema after joining Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad in the summer. "I don't know how to say it's crazy," Real defender David Alaba said after Bellingham's recent performances. "I'm speechless."
Ancelotti is also enthusiastic about Bellingham. "This victory was not only based on quality but rather on dedication," Real told reporters after the game. 'Bellingham is playing very well. He keeps scoring and contributing to the team.'
Bellingham's impressive run in Spain is the latest chapter in his remarkable career. The youngster developed at Birmingham City and made 41 league appearances in 2019/20, earning him the EFL Young Player of the Season award.
When Manchester United tried to sign Bellingham, everyone knew at the time that Bellingham was something special. Still, considering what he's accomplished since breaking out in the West Midlands, it's incredible.
When he moved to Dortmund as a teenager in July 2020, he made a bold decision. Bellingham spent three glorious years in Germany, winning the German Cup and coming one step closer to the Bundesliga title, but missed the chance on the final day of last season. Still, he seems destined for many trophies at club level, and perhaps internationally as well.
It's unclear if Bellingham will continue in such a high-level role. “Goal is not his greatest strength, but he does it well,” Ancelotti said. He has great skills on the edge of the box.