Real Madrid's rising star Jude Bellingham has matched Lionel Messi's Champions League goal contributions for players aged 21 and under.
However, he still falls behind the impressive records set by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
On Wednesday night, Real Madrid crushed RB Salzburg 5-1 in the Champions League. Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior both netted twice, helping their team secure a spot in the round of 16 playoffs.
The victory offered some relief to coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has faced criticism for Real's inconsistent European form this season.
Bellingham shone in the match, assisting both of Rodrygo's first-half goals. This brought his total Champions League contributions to 24, consisting of 11 goals and 13 assists.
At the same age, Messi recorded 17 goals and seven assists for Barcelona in the competition. Despite this milestone, Bellingham still trails Mbappe, who had 26 goal contributions, and Haaland, who achieved an incredible 37 before turning 22.
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Jude Bellingham 2024/25 season stats
Bellingham has faced more criticism this season compared to his stellar 2023-24 campaign. The English midfielder currently averages 0.48 goals per 90 minutes in La Liga, a drop from the 0.74 he managed last season.
This dip in form could be linked to Real Madrid's injury troubles and their struggle to fully integrate new signing Kylian Mbappe.
Despite this, Bellingham has contributed nine goals and nine assists in the 2024-25 season. His 18 goal contributions are just three fewer than Mbappe's, even though he has played over 200 minutes less than the French star.
Since joining Real Madrid, Bellingham has scored 32 goals and provided 22 assists in only 70 appearances across all competitions.
Impressively, he has achieved these numbers while playing in midfield. Additionally, Bellingham has covered the most distance in the Champions League among Real Madrid players and recorded the second-highest speed of any midfielder in the squad.
Real Madrid will rely on Bellingham's talent if they hope to defend their European crown. They might have to go through a two-legged playoff tie to reach the next stage, unless results favor them in their final league-phase match.
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