Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham levels Messi’s Champions League feat

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Most U21 goals + assists 

©TM/IMAGO

After a slow start to the season, Jude Bellingham has rediscovered his form to showcase his unquestionable ability. The Englishman was a revelation during his first season in Spain, registering an incredible 36 goal contributions as Madrid won LaLiga and their 16th Champions League title. The arrival of Kylian Mbappé initially disrupted the balance of Carlo Ancelotti’s men but their recent upturn in form has coincided with the Frenchman acclimatising to his new teammates and Bellingham has also stepped up.

Since the start of the December, the 21-year-old has returned to his best form and Bellingham highlighted once again his ability to influence the biggest games at decisive moments with the winning goal against Manchester City in Madrid’s 3-2 Champions League win. Since emerging at Birmingham before rising to prominence at Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, Bellingham has defied his age to shine at the highest level. And his exploits in the Champions League at 21 ranks him amongst some of the very best players in recent history.

Mbappé provided more goal contributions than any other player in Champions League when ahead 22 or younger. The French international burst onto the scene with Monaco in the competition before moving to PSG and he registered an outrageous 37 goal contributions – 21 goals and 16 assists – before turning 22. As the graphic below illustrates, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi both racked up 26 goal contributions in the Champions League before their 22nd birthday and Bellingham equalled that number with his winner vs Man City.

But the Norwegian striker reached that total in 14 fewer games than the legendary Barcelona attacker, so ranks higher than Messi and Bellingham. Impressively, Bellingham is the only player in the top ten list that could add to their tally this season as he doesn’t turn 22 until June – after the Champions League final.