Champions League final: Spotlight on Jude Bellingham as Real Madrid chase 15th title
Saturday’s Champions League final sees 14-time winners Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, where all eyes are likely to be trained on England star Jude Bellingham.
The 20-year-old will be hoping to play a starring role for Gareth Southgate’s England at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer - but first he needs to battle his former team Dortmund in European football’s showpiece final.
And Bellingham has already shown he is not intimidated by a big occasion, scoring a staggering 23 goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s all-conquering Madrid side having joined the Spanish giants in a £115million deal from Dortmund.
Real lost the services of Karim Benzema before the start of the 2023/24 season, and Madrid fans watched on nervously as they did not replace the France star with a new forward.
Step forward Bellingham, who shrugged off the pressure of his transfer fee with consummate ease and bagged 14 goals in his first 15 games for Madrid - the best record in the club’s history, better than the starts made by Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano.
His maturity at such a young age has left pundits and managers purring, with Madrid coach Ancelotti saying in the final build-up: "It feels like he is 30, for his character, his personality."
La Liga Player of the Season Bellingham has been keen to recognise the role of his manager in his stunning start to life in Madrid, though, telling the press: "All the credit goes to Ancelotti, who found the right position for me and gave me more freedom on the pitch, so now I'm flying."
Bellingham is 4/1 to score the first goal with most bookmakers and that might be worth a nibble as his confidence is sky high and Real create plenty of chances for him.
But let’s go back to the start and take a look at his career so far.
Early Career and Birmingham City
Youth Development: Bellingham joined Birmingham City's academy at the tender age of eight, because apparently, he was done with finger painting and wanted to focus on foot painting instead. He zoomed through the ranks faster than a kid on a sugar rush.
Senior Debut: At 16 years and 38 days old, he made his senior debut on August 6, 2019, against Portsmouth in the EFL Cup, becoming Birmingham's youngest ever first-team player. They should’ve given him a sippy cup along with his matchday water bottle.
2019-2020 season: Bellingham played 44 games and scored four goals, making Championship defenders wish they’d chosen a different career. His performances were so impressive that scouts from top European clubs probably started camping outside his house.
Borussia Dortmund
In July 2020, Bellingham packed his bags and moved to Borussia Dortmund for a cool €25million.
At 17, he became the most expensive teenager ever, making all other teens rethink their life choices.
He scored in his debut DFB-Pokal match against MSV Duisburg on September 14, 2020. His opponents probably asked for his autograph mid-game.
2020-2021 Season: Bellingham made 29 Bundesliga appearances and played a key role in the Champions League, helping Dortmund reach the quarter-finals.
He bagged the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, proving he wasn’t just a flash in the pan - more like a fireworks show.
Real Madrid
In June 2023, Bellingham swapped yellow for white, moving to Real Madrid for a staggering £115m. He didn’t just join a club; he joined a legend-making factory.
Debut Season: He hit the ground running at Real Madrid, quickly winning over fans and helping them win the La Liga title with ease, as Madrid finished 10 points clear of Barcelona.
International Career
England U15 to U21: Bellingham’s been an England regular at various youth levels, showcasing his skills and making sure everyone knew he was the real deal.
On November 12, 2020, he made his senior debut for England against the Republic of Ireland, making even the leprechauns jealous of his talent.
He played in Euro 2020, becoming the youngest English player to feature in a major tournament and making us all feel like we have underachieved in life.
He shone brightly at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with performances that made even the most stoic fans shed a tear of joy.
Playing Style and Attributes
Bellingham is as versatile as a Swiss Army knife, playing various midfield roles with ease. He’s got the defensive chops and attacking flair that makes coaches purr with delight.
Despite his age, Bellingham’s got the maturity of a seasoned pro, making everyone else look like they’re still figuring out how to tie their boots.
Achievements
He’s racked up individual accolades like they’re going out of style, including the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season and La Liga Player of the Season.
With Dortmund, he won the DFB-Pokal in the 2020-2021 season, adding some shiny hardware to his growing collection.
Jude Bellingham’s career is on a trajectory that’s nothing short of rocket-like.
His performances at club and international levels are turning heads and dropping jaws, and his move to Real Madrid is just the latest chapter in what promises to be an epic football saga.
If his current form is anything to go by, the future of football is in very safe, and very talented, hands - and we expect the Champions League trophy to be in those hands on Saturday night.
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